Protective effect of the ethanol extract of Magnolia officinalis and 4-O-methylhonokiol on scopolamine-induced memory impairment and the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity

• DOI: 10.1007/s11418-009-0330-z
• Publication Date: 2009-04-03T01:38:50Z
• Authors: Yong Kyung Lee; Dong Yeon Yuk; Tae Il Kim; Young Heui Kim; Kyoung Tae Kim; Ki Ho Kim; Beom Jun Lee; Sang-Yoon Nam; Jin Tae Hong
• Keywords: Magnolol; Magnolia officinalis; Honokiol; Elevated plus maze

Magnolol, honokiol, and obovatol are well-known bioactive constituents of the bark Magnolia officinalis have been used as traditional Chinese medicines for treatment neurosis, anxiety, stroke. We recently isolated novel active compound (named 4-O-methylhonokiol) from ethanol extract officinalis. The present study aimed to test two different doses extracts (5 10 mg/kg/mouse, p.o., 1 week) 4-O-methylhonokiol (0.75 1.5 administered 7 days on memory impairment induced by scopolamine (1 mg/kg body weight i.p.) in mice. Memory learning were evaluated using Morris water maze step-down avoidance test. Both prevented a dose-dependent manner. also dose-dependently attenuated scopolamine-induced increase acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity cortex hippocampus mice, inhibited AChE vitro with IC50 (12 nM). This study, therefore, suggests that its major ingredient, 4-O-methylhonokiol, may be useful prevention development or progression AD.