Cirsium japonicum var. Maackii Improves Cognitive Impairment under Amyloid Beta(25-35)-Induced Alzheimer's Disease Model

Abnormal production and degradation of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain lead to oxidative stress and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cirsium japonicum var. maackii (CJM) is widely used as an herbal medicine and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This study focused on the protective effect of the ethyl acetate fraction from CJM (ECJM) on Aβ(25-35)-induced control mice. In the T-maze and novel object recognition test, ECJM provided higher spatial memory and object recognition compared to Aβ(25-35) treatment alone. In the Morris water maze test, ECJM-administered mice showed greater learning and memory abilities than Aβ(25-35)-induced control mice. Additionally, ECJM-administered mice experienced inhibited lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide production in a dose-dependent manner. The present study indicates that ECJM improves cognitive impairment by inhibiting oxidative stress in Aβ(25-35)-induced mice. Therefore, CJM may be useful for the treatment of AD and may be a potential material for functional foods.