Effect of Glycyrrhizic Acid on Scopolamine-Induced Cognitive Impairment in Mice

• Published in: International neurourology journal Vol. 24; no. Suppl 1; pp. S48 - 55
• Main Authors: Ban, Ju Yeon, Park, Hyun Kyung, Kim, Su Kang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Continence Society 01.05.2020; 대한배뇨장애요실금학회
• Subjects: glycyrrhizic acid; memory; Original; scopolamine; 비뇨기과학
• ISSN: 2093-6931; 2093-4777; 2093-6931
• DOI: 10.5213/inj.2040154.077

Purpose: Cognitive impairment is one of the main symptoms of Alzheimer disease and other dementias. Glycyrrhiza uralensis is a natural product that has a protective effect against cognitive impairment. In this study, we investigated whether glycyrrhizic acid, among the main bioactive components of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, has a neuroprotective effect on scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment.Methods: Twenty-week-old male Institute of Cancer Research mice were used in this study. The scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment mice model was used. Glycyrrhizic acid was orally administered to mice once daily for 21 days, while scopolamine (1 mg/kg) treatment was delivered 30 minutes before behavioral tests. Donepezil (2 mg/kg) was used as a positive drug control. To evaluate the effect of glycyrrhizic acid, the following assessments were performed on hippocampal tissue: Y-maze test, acetylcholinesterase activity, antioxidant enzymes’ activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase). Western blotting for phosphor-extracellular signal-regulated kinase, P38, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase was conducted.Results: We found that glycyrrhizic acid administration significantly improved scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in the Y-maze test. The acetylcholinesterase activity, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity in the glycyrrhizic acid-treated group showed a significant reversal of cognitive impairment compared with the scopolamine-treated group.Conclusions: Our results suggest that glycyrrhizic acid has a neuroprotective effect on cognitive function in scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment.