Cognitive-Enhancing Effect of Aronia melanocarpa Extract against Memory Impairment Induced by Scopolamine in Mice

Abstract

Aronia melanocarpa (A. melanocarpa) berries are a fruit with a marked antioxidant effect. The objective of this study was to confirm the effect of A. melanocarpa berries extract against scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice using the Morris water maze and passive avoidance test. Moreover, we determined a possible mechanism of the cognitive-enhancing effect involving AChE activity and BDNF and p-CREB expression in the hippocampus of mice. A. melanocarpa berries extract attenuated the learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine in the Morris water maze (79.3 ± 0.8 s of 200 mg/kg and 64.4 ± 10.7 s of 400 mg/kg on day 4) and passive avoidance tests (46.0 ± 41.1 s of 200 mg/kg and 25.6 ± 18.7 s of 400 mg/kg). A. melanocarpa berries extract reduced the acetylcholinesterase level in the hippocampus of scopolamine-injected mice and increased BDNF and p-CREB expression in the hippocampus. The major compound, cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, also reversed memory impairment. These results showed that A. melanocarpa berries extract improved memory impairment by inhibiting AChE and increasing BDNF and p-CREB expression, and cyanidin-3-O-galactoside may be responsible for the effect of A. melanocarpa berries extract.

Figure 1

HPLC chromatogram of cyanidin-3-O-galactoside (a) and A. melanocarpa berries sample (b).

Figure 2

(a) Effect of A. melanocarpa berries extract on the escape latency of scopolamine-treated mice in the Morris water maze test. A. melanocarpa berries extract (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, PO), cyanidin-3-O-galactoside (50 mg/kg body weight, PO), and donepezil (1 mg/kg body weight, PO) were administered 90 min before induction of memory impairment by scopolamine. The escape latency of each group during the training-session trials is presented. (b) Mean distance and (c) swimming speed to find the platform over 4 days. (d) Effect of A. melanocarpa extract in the probe trial. The time spent in the target quadrant during the probe trial is presented. Data are mean escape latencies ± SD (n = 7). (^## p < 0.01 and ^### p < 0.001 versus the control group; ^∗ p < 0.05, ^∗∗ p < 0.01, and ^∗∗∗ p < 0.001 versus scopolamine-treated mice.) Sco: scopolamine.

Figure 3

Effect of A. melanocarpa berries extract on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in the passive avoidance test. The latency prior to entry to the dark compartment was recorded. Data are mean latency times (s) ± SD (n = 7). ^### p < 0.001 versus the control group; ^∗ p < 0.05, ^∗∗ p < 0.01, and ^∗∗∗ p < 0.001 compared with the scopolamine group.

Figure 4

Effect of A. melanocarpa berries extract on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the hippocampi of the mice. Data are means ± SD. ^# p < 0.05 versus the control group; ^∗ p < 0.05 and ^∗∗ p < 0.01 compared with thescopolamine-treated group (n = 3).

Figure 5

The effect of A. melanocarpa berries extract on BDNF and p-CREB expression in the hippocampi of the mice by western blot analysis. Data are means ± SD. ^# p < 0.05 versus the control group; ^∗ p < 0.05 and ^∗∗ p < 0.01 compared with the scopolamine-treated group (n = 3).