Weng-Huang Peng, Ming-Tsuen Hsieh and Chi-Rei Wu
Institute of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Medical College,
91, Hsueh Shih Road, Taichung, Taiwan
Abstract: The effect of berberine (BER) on scopolamine (SCOP)-induced
amnesia was investigated in a step-through passive avoidance task in rats.
It was observed that BER at the doses of 0.1 and 0.5 g/kg after 7-day or
14-day administration significantly improved SCOP-induced amnesia. The anti-amnesic
effect of BER after 14-day administration on the SCOP-induced amnesia was
significantly augmented by physostigmine or neostigmine, and completely
reversed by scopolamine N-methylbromide. These results suggest that the
antiamnesic effect of BER after 14-day administration may be related to
the increase in the peripheral and central cholinergic neuronal system activity.
Keywords: Berberine, Scopolamine, Passive avoidance