1 Department of neurology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China 
2 Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China 
3 College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China

Abstract 

Objective 
To study the co-effect of procyanidins extracted from the lotus seed pod (LSPC) and bilobalide (BIL) on ameliorating scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment in young mice. 
Methods 
Fifty male Kunming mice with similar learning and memory capabilities were selected by Morris water maze test and were randomized into 5 groups (n=10 in each group): control group, scopolamine group, L-(LSPC+BIL) group (50 mg/kg LSPC+10 mg/kg BIL), M-(LSPC+BIL) group (100 mg/kg LSPC+20 mg/kg BIL), H-(LSPC+BIL) group (150 mg/kg LSPC+30 mg/kg BIL). Scopolamine model with impaired learning and memory was established by scopolamine treatment (1 mg/kg), and after 10 min mice were tested. In L-, M-, and H-(LSPC+BIL) groups, mice were treated with LSPC and BIL ig. for 30 days, while mice in the other 2 groups were treated with normal saline ig. instead. After the 30-day’s treatment, the co-effect of LSPC and BIL on learning and memory was tested by Morris water maze and the step-down avoidance tests. 
Results 
The memory impairment caused by scopolamine in young mice could be ameliorated by co-treatment of LSPC and BIL, as indicated by significantly shorter escape latency and swimming distance in the Morris water maze test, when compared with those in the scopolamine group. In the step-down avoidance test, mice in all the 3 dose groups showed significantly smaller number of errors and longer latency than mice in the scopolamine group did. 
Conclusion 
Co-treatment of LSPE and BIL can ameliorate scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment in young mice.

Keywords

lotus seed pod procyanidins; bilobalide; scopolamine; mice; learning and memory

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