Garlic Gongjin-Dan Ameliorates Scopolamine-Induced AMNESIA in Mice

Gongjin-Dan is a traditional oriental medicine herbal drug that has been used tonics. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the hot water extract of Gongjin-Dan mixed garlic(GGD) against scopolamine-induced memory impairment and its mechanism of action. We used the Y-maze and passive avoidance tests to assess anti-amnesic activities in scopolamine-induced memory impairment mouse model. In this model, GGD(12.5, 25 or 50 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced memory impairment. We also explored its mecha-nism of action by conducting an antioxidant activity assay using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) free and acetylcholineserase(AChE) activity assay us-ing the mouse whole brain. GGD increased the scavenging activities of free radical DPPH and ABTS, inhibited AChE activity in the brain. Taken together, our findings suggest that GGD exerts an anti-amnesic effect through the free radical scavenging, AChE inhibition, ameliorate of scopolamine-induced memory impairment. The effect of GGD may be useful for treatment of memory impairment in Alzheimer’s and its related diseases.