ENHANCEMENTS OF CHOLINE-ACETYLTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY AND NERVE GROWTH-FACTOR SECRETION BY POLYGALAE RADIX-EXTRACT CONTAINING ACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN KAMI-UNTAN-TO

The effects of Kami-untan-to (KUT) and component herbs on choline acet yltransferase (ChAT) activity of basal forebrain cells and nerve growt h factor (NGF) secretion from astroglial cells were examined. When rat embryo basal forebrain cells were cultured in the presence of the ext racts of KUT or Polygalae radix (PR) for 3 days, a significant increas e of ChAT activity was observed. An extract of KUT minus Polygala radi x did not enhance the ChAT activity in basal forebrain cells. Polygala e Radix extract at 12.5-50 mu g/ml increased ChAT activity of basal fo rebrain cells and 25 mu g/ml of Polygalae radix extract time-dependent ly enhanced ChAT activity and ChAT mRNA. Oral administration of PR-ext ract or its hydrolyzed common constituents, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycin namic acid (sinapinic acid), in Polygalae radix, induced ChAT activity in cerebral cortex of basal forebrain lesioned rats. PR-extract also induced the NGF secretion in astroglial cells. These results suggest t hat Polygala radix has an important role on the enhancing effects of K UT on ChAT activity and NGF secretion.