The Aqueous Extract of Humulus japonicus Ameliorates Cognitive Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease Models via Modulating the Cholinergic System.

Humulus japonicus (HJ) is an herbal medicine, which has been reported as being antioxidative and anti-inflammatory. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of oral administration of HJ water extract (HJW) on cognitive function through the cholinergic system in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models. Institute of Cancer Research mice injected with beta-amyloid (A β ) (1-42) (i.c.v.) and APP/PS1 transgenic (TG) mice were orally administered with HJW at 500 mg/kg/day for 3 weeks. A β -injected mice and APP/PS1 TG mice showed cognitive dysfunction, which was evaluated by various behavioral tests. HJW treatment significantly attenuated memory impairments in A β -injected mice and APP/PS1 TG mice. A β injection decreased acetylcholine (ACh) concentrations and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, and increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. These cholinergic impairments were also found in APP/PS1 TG mice. HJW significantly attenuated cholinergic alterations in A β -injected mice and TG mice. In addition, HJW significantly decreased A β plaque deposition in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of TG mice. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that HJW protected against AD-related memory impairments via enhancing the cholinergic system and inhibiting A β plaque deposition.