PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF SALVIANOLIC ACID-A AGAINST IMPAIRMENT OF MEMORYINDUCED BY CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION IN MICE

Objective To investigate the protective effects of Salvianolic acid A against impairment of memory induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in mice and the relationship between antioxidant activity of salvianol ic acid A and its protective effects on brain injury caused by reperfu sion. Methods Step down and step through tests were used to examine th e function of memory in the model of impairment of memory induced by c erebral ischemia-reperfusion in mice. Results Salvianolic acid A (Sal A) at the dosage of 3 and 10 mg . kg(-1) iv. could improve the impaire d memory function induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion as shown in step down and step through tests. In step down tests, the mean number of errors of Sal A 3 and 10 mg . kg(-1) treated group were 1.29, 1.15 and that of control group was 3.8 (P < 0.01). The latencies of these tests were longer than those of the control group. Meanwhile, 3 and 10 mg . kgof Sal A iv. were found to reduce the malondialdehyde contents in the cortex, hippocampus and corpus striatum of cerebral ischemia-r eperfusion rat in vivo. Sal A 10 similar to 100 nmol . L(-1) was also shown To inhibit lipid-peroxidation of the brain and scavenge the free hydroxyl radicals in vitro. Conclusion These results indicate that th e ameliorating effect of Sal A on learning and memory impairment cause d by cerebral ischemiareperfusion may be related to its anti-oxidant a ctivity.