Effect of Chaenomeles sinensis Extract on Choline Acetyltransferase Activity and Trimethyltin-Induced Learning and Memory Impairment in Mice.

Yoon Kyung Kwon, Soo Jung Choi, Cho Rong Kim, Jae Kyeom Kim, Hye Kyung Kim, Jong Hun Choi, Sang-Wook Song, Chang-Ju Kim, Gwi Gun Park, Cheung-Seog Park, Dong-Hoon Shin

Index: Chem. Pharm. Bull. 63 , 1076-80, (2015)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to search for a novel choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activator from plants traditionally grown in Korea. An ethanol extract from Chaenomeles sinensis Koehne showed the highest ChAT-activating effect in vitro in an assay that used human neuroblastoma cells and [(14)C]acetyl-CoA. The active compound was speculated to be stearic acid methyl ester (SAME). In an in vivo experiment, C. sinensis extract and SAME improved trimethyltin (TMT)-induced deficits in learning and memory in mice as assessed by a Y-maze behavioral test and a passive avoidance test. The C. sinensis extract might attenuate the TMT-induced brain disorder. This study suggests that SAME from C. sinensis might be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.