OBJECTIVETo study the effect of the Qingxin Kaiqiao fang on learning and memory ability and shape hippocampal nerve cells in Alzheimer disease (AD).

METHODOne handred and fifty mice were divid into five groups: blank group, model group, two groups of treatment by Qingxin Kaiqiao fang (14.82, 7.41 g x kg(-1)), piracetan comparison group (0.42 g x kg(-1)). The model group was orally given AlCl3 (200 mg x kg(-1)) every day. For Qingxin Kaiqiaofang and piracetan groups, AlCl3 treatment was given for 6 days at the beginning, followed by giving orally AlCl3 in the morning and drug in the afternoon for 8 weeks. Then, learning and memory aility, the contents of nitric oxide (NO), NO synthase (NOS) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) in brain, and morphology of hippocampal nerve cells were investigated.

RESULTLearning and memory ability of Qingxin Kaiqiaofang groups was improved, compared with comparison group; the difference was significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The drug could prevent hippocampal nerve cells from damaged obviously. The contents of NO, NOS and AchE in mice of treatment groups were lower than those of comparison group; the difference was significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONQingxin Kaiqiaofang can improve learning and memory ability of AD mice, prote chippocampal nerve cells, and treat Alzheimer disease.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; psychology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Random Allocation