Effect of selected thallophytic glucans on learning behaviour and short-term potentiation

This paper reviews the effects of thallophytic glucans on rodent cognitive performance modelled by a combination of behavioural and electrophysiologic al approaches. Glucans were isolated from thallophytic plants, based on pre scriptions used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine. In parallel w ith the already described enhancement of hippocampal synaptic plasticity by disaccharides, polysaccharides isolated from lichens Flavoparmelia caperat a and Cetrariella islandica, enhanced hippocampal plasticity and behavioura l performance in rats. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.