Casticin ameliorates scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Neuroscience
• Ethnobotany

Background:

• The fruit of Vitex rotundifolia (Verbenaceae) has traditional uses for headache relief.
• Headaches, including migraines, are increasingly recognized as risk factors for dementia.
• Vitex rotundifolia may offer therapeutic potential for dementia-related cognitive dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of casticin, an active compound from Vitex rotundifolia, on a scopolamine-induced mouse model of cognitive impairment.
• To build upon previous findings that the ethanolic extract of Vitex rotundifolia (EEVR) ameliorates cognitive dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• Mice were administered EEVR or casticin orally.
• Cognitive function was assessed using passive avoidance, Morris water maze, and novel object recognition tests.
• Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and levels of ERK, CREB, and BDNF were analyzed.

Main Results:

• EEVR and casticin significantly improved memory performance in behavioral tests.
• Casticin reduced AChE activity and increased phosphorylation of ERK, CREB, and BDNF in the cortex.
• These molecular changes are linked to memory and learning processes.

Conclusions:

• Casticin effectively ameliorates cognitive impairment induced by cholinergic blockade.
• The mechanism involves AChE inhibition and activation of the ERK-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway.
• Casticin shows promise as a therapeutic agent for cognitive dysfunction associated with cholinergic impairment.