BACKGROUND: Acanthopanax senticosus,a plant of the Araliaceae family,is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It can be used to replenish Qi,strengthen the spleen,tonify the kidney,and relieve mental strain. OBJECTIVE: To observe effects of Acanthopanax senticosus on learning and memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease and abnormal biochemical changes in the brain tissue. DESIGN: A completely randomized grouping,controlled animal experiment. SETTING: Department of Preventive Medicine,School of Basic Medical Sciences,Yanbian University. MATERIALS: A total of 50 Kunming mice,aged 1-1.5 months,equal numbers of males and females,were provided by the Laboratory Animal Center,Yanbian University Medical College. The study was performed in accordance with ethical guidelines for the use and care of animals. Acanthopanax was provided by Yanbian Chengda Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd. Acanthopanax senticosus (0.5 kg) was soaked in water for 1 hour and transferred to 1.5 kg distilled water for extraction. It was boiled for 1 hour and extracted after 1 hour of boiling. The procedure was repeated 3 times. The extract was condensed to 500 mL and then adjusted to 500 and 1 000 g/L with water. Piracetam tablets were produced by Shandong Luoxin Pharmaceutical Corporation,China. Malonaldehyde (MDA),superoxide dismutase (SOD),and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) kits were purchased from Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Co.,Ltd.,China. METHODS: This study was performed at the Department of Preventive Medicine,School of Basic Medical Sciences,Yanbian University from January to June 2007. All mice were randomly divided into 5 groups with 10 mice in each: control group,model group,low-,and high-dose Acanthopanax senticosus-treated groups,and piracetam-treated group. All groups were administered 0.1 mL/10 g. In the control and model groups,mice were intragastrically administered saline each morning for 5 days prior to experimentation. Five days later,they were intraperitoneally perfused with saline and aluminum trichloride (100 mg/kg),respectively,every other afternoon. In the low-and high-dose Acanthopanax senticosus-treated groups,as well as the piracetam-treated groups,mice were intragastrically administered 500 and 1 000 g/L Acanthopanax senticosus and 23 g/L piracetam suspension,respectively,every morning. Five days later,they were intraperitoneally perfused with aluminum trichloride (100 mg/kg) every other afternoon,20 successive times. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: On days 20,23,26,and 29 after treatment,time-to-platform,number of errors,and accuracy were measured by water maze. After anesthesia,mice were euthanized and whole brain tissues were immediately resected and homogenized. MDA levels,and SOD and AChE activities,were measured using the corresponding kits. RESULTS: Fifty mice were included in the final analysis. In the model group,accuracy increased,and time-to-platform was prolonged,compared to control group (P < 0.05-0.01). In the model group,MDA levels significantly increased (P < 0.05),while SOD activity significantly decreased (P < 0.01),compared to control group. MDA levels were significantly lower and SOD activity was significantly higher in the low-and high-dose Acanthopanax senticosus-treated groups,compared to the model group (P < 0.05-0.01). In the model group,AChE activity significantly increased,compared to the control group (P < 0.05). AChE activity was significantly lower in the high-dose Acanthopanax senticosus-treated and the piracetam-treated groups than in the model group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acanthopanax senticosus can improve learning and memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease,and concomitantly increase SOD activity,inhibit AChE activity,and decrease MDA levels. BACKGROUND: Acanthopanax senticosus, a plant of the Araliaceae family, is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It can be used to replenish Qi, strengthen the spleen, tonify the kidney, and relieve mental strain. OBJECTIVE: To observe effects of Acanthopanax senticosus on learning and memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease and abnormal biochemical changes in the brain tissue. DESIGN: A completely randomized grouping, controlled animal experiment. SETTING: Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Yanbian University. MATERIALS: A total of 50 Kunming mice, aged 1-1.5 months, equal numbers of males and females, were provided by the Laboratory Animal Center, Yanbian University Medical College. The study was performed in accordance with ethical guidelines for the use and care of animals. Acanthopanax was provided by Yanbian Chengda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Acanthopanax senticosus (0.5 kg) was soaked in water for 1 hour and transferred to 1.5 kg distilled water for extr The procedure was repeated 3 times. The extract was condensed to 500 mL and then adjusted to 500 and 1 000 g / L with water. Piracetam tablets were produced by Shandong METHODS: This study was performed at the Department of Preventive Medicine, Luoxin Pharmaceutical Corporation, China. Malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) kits were purchased from Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Co., School of Basic Medical Sciences, Yanbian University from January to June 2007. All mice were randomly divided into 5 groups with 10 mice in each: control group, model group, low-, and high-dose Acanthopanax senticosus-treated groups, and piracetam- treated groups. All groups were administered 0.1 mL / 10 g. In the control and model groups, mice were intragastrically administered saline for 5 days prior to experimentation. Five days later, they were intraperitoneally perfused with saliIn the low-and high-dose Acanthopanax senticosus-treated groups, as well as the piracetam-treated groups, mice were intragastrically administered 500 and 1 000 g / Five days later, they were perperitoneally perfused with aluminum trichloride (100 mg / kg) every other afternoon, 20 successive times. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: On days 20, 23 , 26, and 29 after treatment, time-to-platform, number of errors, and accuracy were measured by water maze. After anesthesia, mice were euthanized and whole brain tissues were immediately resected and homogenized. MDA levels, and SOD and AChE activities , were measured using the corresponding kits. RESULTS: Fifty mice were included in the final analysis. In the model group, accuracy increased, and time-to-platform was prolonged, compared to control group (P <0.05-0.01). In the model group, MDA levels significantly increased (P <0.05) and significantly decreased while SOD activity (P <0.01), compared to control group. MDA levels were significantly lower and SOD activity was significantly higher in the low-and high-dose Acanthopanax senticosus-treated groups, compared to the model group (P <0.05-0.01). In the model group, AChE activity was significantly increased, compared to the control group (P <0.05). AChE activity was significantly lower in the high-dose Acanthopanax senticosus-treated and the piracetam- treated groups than in the model group (P <0.05) CONCLUSION: Acanthopanax senticosus can improve learning and memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, and concomitantly increase SOD activity, inhibit AChE activity, and decrease MDA levels.