The effect of ZMS, an active component of Zhimu, on NGF and BDNF in brains of aged rats / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

AIM To study the effect of ZMS, an active component of traditional Chinese herb Zhimu, on two neurotrophins in brains of aged rats. METHODS The function of learning and memory was detected by Y-maze. BDNF and NGF in brain were determined by ELISA. Rats were divided into three groups, young, aged, and aged treated with ZMS for two months at a dose of 18mg/kg/d which is equivalent to the dose recommended for clinical use. RESULTS The learning and memory ability are impaired in aged animals and ZMS is effective in improving the learning and memory ability of such animals. BDNF content of whole brain is lowered in aged rats when compared with young rats. ZMS is able to raise the BDNF content to a higher level. The NGF contents of young, aged and aged treated with ZMS groups were not significantly different from each other. CONCLUSIONS ZMS is able to raise brain BDNF in aged rats and thus to protect cholinergic neurons from degeneration. It is very probable that this action is one of the mechanisms of ZMS in improving the ability of learning and memory.