Objective To investigate the ameliorating effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the depression-like behaviors induced by chronic restraint stress(CRS)in rats and the underlying mechanisms.Methods Forty male Wistar rats were di...Objective To investigate the ameliorating effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the depression-like behaviors induced by chronic restraint stress(CRS)in rats and the underlying mechanisms.Methods Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups according to their baseline sucrose preference:control group,model group,and Rg1-treated groups(5 and 10 mg/kg).Except for control group,the groups were exposed to CRS(6 h/day)for 28 days.All drugs were intraperitoneally administered once daily to CRS rats after restraint stress for 14 days.The behavioral tests were carried out via the open field test(OFT),sucrose preference test(SPT),forced swim test(FST),and the Morris water maze(MWM)4 weeks following CRS induction.The levels of serum corticosterone(CORT)and the activities of the antioxidant defense biomarkers(SOD,MDA and GSH-x)in the prefrontal cortex(PFC)were analyzed using commercial ELISA kits.The levels of the neurotransmitter(5-HT,5-HIAA,Ach,NE,GABA and Glu)in the PFC were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.The protein expression of BDNF,Trkb,Bax and Bcl-2 in the PFC was detected by western blotting.Results Owing to increased sucrose consumption in the SPT,decreased immobility time in the FST,and the improved cognitive performance in MWM,chronic treatment with Ginsenoside Rg1 was found to significantly attenuate depressionlike behaviors(anhedonia,behavioral despair and poor spatial memory)in rats.Moreover,CRS exposure caused evident alterations in the levels of the neurotransmitters(5-HT,5-HIAA,Ach,GABA and Glu)and the activities of the antioxidant defense biomarkers(SOD,MDA and GSH-x)in the PFC and the levels of corticosterone in serum.However,Ginsenoside Rg1 treatment could restore these levels to normal values.Additionally,Ginsenoside Rg1 treatment significantly reverted the decreased expression of BDNF,Trkb and Bcl-2 and the increased expression of Bax in the PFC of CRS rats.Conclusions Ginsenoside Rg1 could attenuate the CRS-induced depression-like behaviors,in part,by regulating neurotransmitter levels and HPA function,antagonizing oxidative stress and apoptosis,and restoring BDNF-TrkB signaling in PFC.Altogether,our results provide a novel basis regarding the potential therapeutic effects of Rg1 on depression.展开更多
The aim of this study was to produce fine particles with different corrugated degree of surface by spray-drying and to investigate the effect of surface morphology on in vitro aerosol performance of the particles with...The aim of this study was to produce fine particles with different corrugated degree of surface by spray-drying and to investigate the effect of surface morphology on in vitro aerosol performance of the particles within HFA 134a based metered dose formulations.Compositions of rizatriptan and scutellarin were spray-dried using different spray-drying parameters,and particles were suspended within HFA 134a.The surface morphology were determined using scanning electron microscopy(SEM),while the aerodynamic performance of MDIs was evaluated using a next generation pharmaceutical impactor.The surface morphology of spraydried particles could vary from smooth to moderately corrugated,and to raisin-like depending upon spray-drying parameters and preparation compositions.In general,increasing inlet temperature,decreasing feed concentration and/or adding leucine to the feed solution tended to increase the corrugated degree of particle surface.Deposition results indicated that raisinlike particle based MDIs for all compositions of the two drugs produced significantly better aerodynamic performance in terms of fine particle fractions and mass median aerodynamic diameters relative to the formulations of the corresponding smooth or slightly corrugated particles when the particle compositions were the same.The present results demonstrated that wrinkled particles increased fine particle fractions within surfactant-free MDI formulations.展开更多
The study of tumor nanovaccines(NVs)has gained interest because they specifically recognize and eliminate tumor cells.However,the poor recognition and internalization by dendritic cells(DCs)and insufficient immunogeni...The study of tumor nanovaccines(NVs)has gained interest because they specifically recognize and eliminate tumor cells.However,the poor recognition and internalization by dendritic cells(DCs)and insufficient immunogenicity restricted the vaccine efficacy.Herein,we extracted two molecular-weight Astragalus polysaccharides(APS,12.19 k D;APSHMw,135.67 k D)from Radix Astragali and made them self-assemble with OVA257–264directly forming OVA/APS integrated nanocomplexes through the microfluidic method.The nanocomplexes were wrapped with a sheddable calcium phosphate layer to improve stability.APS in the formed nanocomplexes served as drug carriers and immune adjuvants for potent tumor immunotherapy.The optimal APS-NVs were approximately 160 nm with uniform size distribution and could remain stable in physiological saline solution.The FITC-OVA in APS-NVs could be effectively taken up by DCs,and APS-NVs could stimulate the maturation of DCs,improving the antigen cross-presentation efficiency in vitro.The possible mechanism was that APS can induce DC activation via multiple receptors such as dectin-1 and Toll-like receptors 2 and 4.Enhanced accumulation of APS-NVs both in draining and distal lymph nodes were observed following s.c.injection.Smaller APS-NVs could easily access the lymph nodes.Furthermore,APS-NVs could markedly promote antigen delivery efficiency to DCs and activate cytotoxic T cells.In addition,APS-NVs achieve a better antitumor effect in established B16-OVA melanoma tumors compared with the OVA+Alum treatment group.The antitumor mechanism correlated with the increase in cytotoxic T cells in the tumor region.Subsequently,the poor tumor inhibitory effect of APS-NVs on the nude mouse model of melanoma also confirmed the participation of antitumor adaptive immune response induced by NVs.Therefore,this study developed a promising APS-based tumor NV that is an efficient tumor immunotherapy without systemic side effects.展开更多
Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma(Sanqi in Chinese)is a precious traditional Chinese herbal medicine.It has the effect of dispersing blood stasis and stopping bleeding,reducing swelling and fixing pain.However,it tends to ...Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma(Sanqi in Chinese)is a precious traditional Chinese herbal medicine.It has the effect of dispersing blood stasis and stopping bleeding,reducing swelling and fixing pain.However,it tends to contaminate with harmful fungi during storage,which may make it much less effective.In order to understand the fungal contamination of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma and master its composition of the exogenous fungi.The surface fungi of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma samples collected from six Chinese provinces and districts were investigated by using dilution plate method.Detection of aflatoxins by UPLC-MS/MS.The results showed that Penicillium citrinum was dominantly isolated from Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma samples from No.1 to No.4.Aspergillus flavus,which produces aflatoxin,was dominantly isolated from Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma samples from No.5 and No.6.In addition,kinds of mycotoxin were assayed which were produced by three of those identified A.flavus.All three fungi strains produced aflatoxin B1(AFB1)and one strain HBSQ1-5 additionally produced other three kinds of mycotoxin,AFB2,AFG1 and AFG2.It is the results implied that it will be very important to take serious cautions when using Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma.As well as,understanding the composition of the exogenous fungi of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma and the strains of toxin-producing fungi,which can play an important role in guiding the storage of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma.展开更多
American ginseng(Panax quinquefolius L.) is a well-known Asian traditional herbal medicine with a large market demand. The plant is native to eastern North America, and its main producing areas worldwide are decreasin...American ginseng(Panax quinquefolius L.) is a well-known Asian traditional herbal medicine with a large market demand. The plant is native to eastern North America, and its main producing areas worldwide are decreasing due to continuous cropping obstacles and environmental changes. Therefore, the identification of maximum similarities of new ecological distribution of P.quinquefolius, and prediction of its response to climate change in the future are necessary for plant introduction and cultivation. In this study, the areas with potential ecological suitability for P. quinquefolius were predicted using the geographic information system for global medicinal plants(GMPGIS) based on 476 occurrence points and 19 bioclimatic variables. The results indicate that the new ecologically suitable areas for P. quinquefolius are East Asia and the mid-eastern Europe, which are mainly distributed in China, Russia, Japan, Ukraine, Belarus, North Korean, South Korea, and Romania. Under global climate change scenarios, the suitable planting areas for P. quinquefolius would be increased by 9.16%–30.97%, and expanding north and west over the current ecologically suitable areas by 2070. The potential increased areas that are ecologically suitable include northern Canada, Eastern Europe, and the Lesser Khingan Mountains of China, and reduced regions are mainly in central China, the southern U.S., and southern Europe. Jackknife tests indicate that the precipitation of the warmest quarter was the important climatic factor controlling the distribution of P. quinquefolius.Our findings can be used as a useful guide for P. quinquefolius introduction and cultivation in ecologically suitable areas.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To assess the antioxidant capacity of aqueous extracts of buds and flowers of Lonicera japonica Thunb.(BLJ and FLJ) using in vitro assays.METHODS: We assessed the in vitro antioxidant activities of aqueous ...OBJECTIVE: To assess the antioxidant capacity of aqueous extracts of buds and flowers of Lonicera japonica Thunb.(BLJ and FLJ) using in vitro assays.METHODS: We assessed the in vitro antioxidant activities of aqueous extracts of BLJ and FLJ and compared with that of classical antioxidants vitamin C and butylated hydroxytoluene, using several well-established methods including the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl assay, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay, reducing power assay, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assay, β-carotene bleaching assay, ferric thiocyanate assay, and thiobarbituric acid method.RESULTS: The aqueous extracts of both BLJ and FLJ had similarly potent antioxidant capacity. There were no significance differences between BLJ and FLJ in all the assays.CONCLUSION: The aqueous extracts of both BLJ and FLJ have antioxidant activity with comparable efficacy. These findings suggest that both BLJ and FLJ may have the potential as natural antioxidants.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the extract from Jiangtang Xiaozhi recipe(JXR) of in vitro.METHODS: JXR extract was prepared according to previously reported method. In vitro antioxidant assays were...OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the extract from Jiangtang Xiaozhi recipe(JXR) of in vitro.METHODS: JXR extract was prepared according to previously reported method. In vitro antioxidant assays were used in this experiment, including 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical(DPPH) radical scavenging ability, 2-2’-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sul phonate(ABTS) radical scavenging ability, reducing power assay, fluorescence recovery after photo bleaching assay, β-carotene bleaching assay, ferric thiocyanate assay, and thiobarbituric acid method.RESULTS: DPPH, ABTS assay showed that JXR extract had distinct effect on scavenging free radicals;reducing power and ferricreducing-antioxidant power assay showed that JXR extract possessed redox ability;β-Carotene bleaching assay and antioxidant activity in a linoleic acid system using ferric thiocyanate method, thiobarbituric acid assay indicated that JXR extract could effectively inhibit lipid peroxidation, and the effect was better than that of Vitamin C.CONCLUSION: JXR extract has significant antioxidant capacity in vitro.展开更多
Objectives： The aim of the study is to evaluate the cognitive-enhancing effects of hydrolysate of polyga- lasaponin （HPS） on senescence accelerate mouse P8 （SAMP8） mice, an effective Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） m...Objectives： The aim of the study is to evaluate the cognitive-enhancing effects of hydrolysate of polyga- lasaponin （HPS） on senescence accelerate mouse P8 （SAMP8） mice, an effective Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） model, and to research the relevant mechanisms. Methods： The cognitive-enhancing effects of HPS on SAMP8 mice were assessed using Morris water maze （MWM） and step-through passive avoidance tests. Then N-methyl-D-aspartate （NMDA） receptor subunit expression for both the cortex and hippocampus of mice was observed using Western blot- ting. Results： HPS （25 and 50 mg/kg） improved the escape rate and decreased the escape latency and time spent in the target quadrant for the SAMP8 mice in the MWM after oral administration of HPS for 10 d. Moreover, it decreased error times in the passive avoidance tests. Western blotting showed that HPS was able to reverse the levels of NMDAR1 and NMDAR2B expression in the cortex or hippocampus of model mice. Conclusions： The present study suggested that HPS can improve cognitive deficits in SAMP8 mice, and this mechanism might be associated with NMDA receptor （NMDAR）-related pathways.展开更多
基金funding support from the Open Funding Project of National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering (No. SYFD150051808K)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2016YFE0131800)the Highend Talents Recruitments Program (Liu Xin-Min group) of Luzhou Municipal People’s Government and Development of Animal Model on Human Diseases (No. 2016-I2M-2-006)
文摘Objective To investigate the ameliorating effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the depression-like behaviors induced by chronic restraint stress(CRS)in rats and the underlying mechanisms.Methods Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups according to their baseline sucrose preference:control group,model group,and Rg1-treated groups(5 and 10 mg/kg).Except for control group,the groups were exposed to CRS(6 h/day)for 28 days.All drugs were intraperitoneally administered once daily to CRS rats after restraint stress for 14 days.The behavioral tests were carried out via the open field test(OFT),sucrose preference test(SPT),forced swim test(FST),and the Morris water maze(MWM)4 weeks following CRS induction.The levels of serum corticosterone(CORT)and the activities of the antioxidant defense biomarkers(SOD,MDA and GSH-x)in the prefrontal cortex(PFC)were analyzed using commercial ELISA kits.The levels of the neurotransmitter(5-HT,5-HIAA,Ach,NE,GABA and Glu)in the PFC were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.The protein expression of BDNF,Trkb,Bax and Bcl-2 in the PFC was detected by western blotting.Results Owing to increased sucrose consumption in the SPT,decreased immobility time in the FST,and the improved cognitive performance in MWM,chronic treatment with Ginsenoside Rg1 was found to significantly attenuate depressionlike behaviors(anhedonia,behavioral despair and poor spatial memory)in rats.Moreover,CRS exposure caused evident alterations in the levels of the neurotransmitters(5-HT,5-HIAA,Ach,GABA and Glu)and the activities of the antioxidant defense biomarkers(SOD,MDA and GSH-x)in the PFC and the levels of corticosterone in serum.However,Ginsenoside Rg1 treatment could restore these levels to normal values.Additionally,Ginsenoside Rg1 treatment significantly reverted the decreased expression of BDNF,Trkb and Bcl-2 and the increased expression of Bax in the PFC of CRS rats.Conclusions Ginsenoside Rg1 could attenuate the CRS-induced depression-like behaviors,in part,by regulating neurotransmitter levels and HPA function,antagonizing oxidative stress and apoptosis,and restoring BDNF-TrkB signaling in PFC.Altogether,our results provide a novel basis regarding the potential therapeutic effects of Rg1 on depression.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant no.81172997)the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China(grant no.2012ZX09301-002-030)for the financial supports.
文摘The aim of this study was to produce fine particles with different corrugated degree of surface by spray-drying and to investigate the effect of surface morphology on in vitro aerosol performance of the particles within HFA 134a based metered dose formulations.Compositions of rizatriptan and scutellarin were spray-dried using different spray-drying parameters,and particles were suspended within HFA 134a.The surface morphology were determined using scanning electron microscopy(SEM),while the aerodynamic performance of MDIs was evaluated using a next generation pharmaceutical impactor.The surface morphology of spraydried particles could vary from smooth to moderately corrugated,and to raisin-like depending upon spray-drying parameters and preparation compositions.In general,increasing inlet temperature,decreasing feed concentration and/or adding leucine to the feed solution tended to increase the corrugated degree of particle surface.Deposition results indicated that raisinlike particle based MDIs for all compositions of the two drugs produced significantly better aerodynamic performance in terms of fine particle fractions and mass median aerodynamic diameters relative to the formulations of the corresponding smooth or slightly corrugated particles when the particle compositions were the same.The present results demonstrated that wrinkled particles increased fine particle fractions within surfactant-free MDI formulations.
基金supported by Key Project at Central Government Level:the ability establishment of sustainable use for valuable Chinese medicine resources(2060302-2305-04)CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(2021-1-I2M-031,2022-I2M-1-018,2022-I2M-2-002)+1 种基金Jilin Provincial Fiscal Construction Program for High-Tech Industries and Technologies(2022C041-5,20220401117YY)Hohhot Science and Technology Program(2021-Social-4)。
文摘The study of tumor nanovaccines(NVs)has gained interest because they specifically recognize and eliminate tumor cells.However,the poor recognition and internalization by dendritic cells(DCs)and insufficient immunogenicity restricted the vaccine efficacy.Herein,we extracted two molecular-weight Astragalus polysaccharides(APS,12.19 k D;APSHMw,135.67 k D)from Radix Astragali and made them self-assemble with OVA257–264directly forming OVA/APS integrated nanocomplexes through the microfluidic method.The nanocomplexes were wrapped with a sheddable calcium phosphate layer to improve stability.APS in the formed nanocomplexes served as drug carriers and immune adjuvants for potent tumor immunotherapy.The optimal APS-NVs were approximately 160 nm with uniform size distribution and could remain stable in physiological saline solution.The FITC-OVA in APS-NVs could be effectively taken up by DCs,and APS-NVs could stimulate the maturation of DCs,improving the antigen cross-presentation efficiency in vitro.The possible mechanism was that APS can induce DC activation via multiple receptors such as dectin-1 and Toll-like receptors 2 and 4.Enhanced accumulation of APS-NVs both in draining and distal lymph nodes were observed following s.c.injection.Smaller APS-NVs could easily access the lymph nodes.Furthermore,APS-NVs could markedly promote antigen delivery efficiency to DCs and activate cytotoxic T cells.In addition,APS-NVs achieve a better antitumor effect in established B16-OVA melanoma tumors compared with the OVA+Alum treatment group.The antitumor mechanism correlated with the increase in cytotoxic T cells in the tumor region.Subsequently,the poor tumor inhibitory effect of APS-NVs on the nude mouse model of melanoma also confirmed the participation of antitumor adaptive immune response induced by NVs.Therefore,this study developed a promising APS-based tumor NV that is an efficient tumor immunotherapy without systemic side effects.
基金the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(CIFMS)(2021-I2M-1-032 and 2017-I2M-1-013)the National Key Research and Development Project(2022YFC3501504).
文摘Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma(Sanqi in Chinese)is a precious traditional Chinese herbal medicine.It has the effect of dispersing blood stasis and stopping bleeding,reducing swelling and fixing pain.However,it tends to contaminate with harmful fungi during storage,which may make it much less effective.In order to understand the fungal contamination of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma and master its composition of the exogenous fungi.The surface fungi of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma samples collected from six Chinese provinces and districts were investigated by using dilution plate method.Detection of aflatoxins by UPLC-MS/MS.The results showed that Penicillium citrinum was dominantly isolated from Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma samples from No.1 to No.4.Aspergillus flavus,which produces aflatoxin,was dominantly isolated from Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma samples from No.5 and No.6.In addition,kinds of mycotoxin were assayed which were produced by three of those identified A.flavus.All three fungi strains produced aflatoxin B1(AFB1)and one strain HBSQ1-5 additionally produced other three kinds of mycotoxin,AFB2,AFG1 and AFG2.It is the results implied that it will be very important to take serious cautions when using Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma.As well as,understanding the composition of the exogenous fungi of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma and the strains of toxin-producing fungi,which can play an important role in guiding the storage of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81403053 and 81274013)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2017YFC1702100)+1 种基金the National Science-technology Support Plan Project(No.2015BAI05B02)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2017M611128)
文摘American ginseng(Panax quinquefolius L.) is a well-known Asian traditional herbal medicine with a large market demand. The plant is native to eastern North America, and its main producing areas worldwide are decreasing due to continuous cropping obstacles and environmental changes. Therefore, the identification of maximum similarities of new ecological distribution of P.quinquefolius, and prediction of its response to climate change in the future are necessary for plant introduction and cultivation. In this study, the areas with potential ecological suitability for P. quinquefolius were predicted using the geographic information system for global medicinal plants(GMPGIS) based on 476 occurrence points and 19 bioclimatic variables. The results indicate that the new ecologically suitable areas for P. quinquefolius are East Asia and the mid-eastern Europe, which are mainly distributed in China, Russia, Japan, Ukraine, Belarus, North Korean, South Korea, and Romania. Under global climate change scenarios, the suitable planting areas for P. quinquefolius would be increased by 9.16%–30.97%, and expanding north and west over the current ecologically suitable areas by 2070. The potential increased areas that are ecologically suitable include northern Canada, Eastern Europe, and the Lesser Khingan Mountains of China, and reduced regions are mainly in central China, the southern U.S., and southern Europe. Jackknife tests indicate that the precipitation of the warmest quarter was the important climatic factor controlling the distribution of P. quinquefolius.Our findings can be used as a useful guide for P. quinquefolius introduction and cultivation in ecologically suitable areas.
基金Supported by National Science and Technology Major New Drugs Project of China:Study on the allergic markers and early warning system of Shuanghuanglian Injection,(No.2014ZX09201022-006)
文摘OBJECTIVE: To assess the antioxidant capacity of aqueous extracts of buds and flowers of Lonicera japonica Thunb.(BLJ and FLJ) using in vitro assays.METHODS: We assessed the in vitro antioxidant activities of aqueous extracts of BLJ and FLJ and compared with that of classical antioxidants vitamin C and butylated hydroxytoluene, using several well-established methods including the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl assay, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay, reducing power assay, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assay, β-carotene bleaching assay, ferric thiocyanate assay, and thiobarbituric acid method.RESULTS: The aqueous extracts of both BLJ and FLJ had similarly potent antioxidant capacity. There were no significance differences between BLJ and FLJ in all the assays.CONCLUSION: The aqueous extracts of both BLJ and FLJ have antioxidant activity with comparable efficacy. These findings suggest that both BLJ and FLJ may have the potential as natural antioxidants.
基金Supported by The Special Project for Academic Construction of Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing(Traditional Chinese Medicine Cultural Construction for Heritage in Chinese Union of Medicinal Plant Gardens,Tsinghua,211-201920100902)Beijing Natural Science Foundation(The molecular mechanism of the retinal pericyte protection by Jangtang Xiaozhi Tablets in STZ induced diabetic rats,No.7152100)。
文摘OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antioxidant capacity of the extract from Jiangtang Xiaozhi recipe(JXR) of in vitro.METHODS: JXR extract was prepared according to previously reported method. In vitro antioxidant assays were used in this experiment, including 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical(DPPH) radical scavenging ability, 2-2’-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sul phonate(ABTS) radical scavenging ability, reducing power assay, fluorescence recovery after photo bleaching assay, β-carotene bleaching assay, ferric thiocyanate assay, and thiobarbituric acid method.RESULTS: DPPH, ABTS assay showed that JXR extract had distinct effect on scavenging free radicals;reducing power and ferricreducing-antioxidant power assay showed that JXR extract possessed redox ability;β-Carotene bleaching assay and antioxidant activity in a linoleic acid system using ferric thiocyanate method, thiobarbituric acid assay indicated that JXR extract could effectively inhibit lipid peroxidation, and the effect was better than that of Vitamin C.CONCLUSION: JXR extract has significant antioxidant capacity in vitro.
基金Project supported by the Medicinal Science and Technology Research Project(No.BWS11J052)the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(No.2012ZX09J12201)the Department of Science and Technology of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China(No.201491174)
文摘Objectives： The aim of the study is to evaluate the cognitive-enhancing effects of hydrolysate of polyga- lasaponin （HPS） on senescence accelerate mouse P8 （SAMP8） mice, an effective Alzheimer＇s disease （AD） model, and to research the relevant mechanisms. Methods： The cognitive-enhancing effects of HPS on SAMP8 mice were assessed using Morris water maze （MWM） and step-through passive avoidance tests. Then N-methyl-D-aspartate （NMDA） receptor subunit expression for both the cortex and hippocampus of mice was observed using Western blot- ting. Results： HPS （25 and 50 mg/kg） improved the escape rate and decreased the escape latency and time spent in the target quadrant for the SAMP8 mice in the MWM after oral administration of HPS for 10 d. Moreover, it decreased error times in the passive avoidance tests. Western blotting showed that HPS was able to reverse the levels of NMDAR1 and NMDAR2B expression in the cortex or hippocampus of model mice. Conclusions： The present study suggested that HPS can improve cognitive deficits in SAMP8 mice, and this mechanism might be associated with NMDA receptor （NMDAR）-related pathways.
