Effects of Radix Polygalae on Cognitive Decline and Depression in Estradiol Depletion Mouse Model of Menopause

• Published in: Current issues in molecular biology Vol. 43; no. 3; pp. 1669 - 1684
• Main Authors: Han, Gaeul, Choi, Junhyuk, Cha, Seung-Yun, Kim, Byung Il, Kho, Hee Kyung, Jang, Maeng-Jin, Kim, Mi Ae, Maeng, Sungho, Hong, Heeok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 19-10-2021; MDPI AG
• Subjects: Animals; Behavior, Animal; cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction - drug therapy; Cognitive Dysfunction - etiology; Cognitive Dysfunction - metabolism; depression; Depression - drug therapy; Depression - etiology; Depression - metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology; Estradiol - metabolism; estrogen; Estrous Cycle - drug effects; Estrous Cycle - metabolism; Female; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Hippocampus - drug effects; Hippocampus - metabolism; Menopause - drug effects; Menopause - metabolism; Mice; Prefrontal Cortex - drug effects; Prefrontal Cortex - metabolism; radix polygalae; Vagina - drug effects; Vagina - metabolism; Vagina - pathology; VCD; estrogen; depression; cognition; radix polygalae; VCD
• ISSN: 1467-3045; 1467-3037; 1467-3045
• DOI: 10.3390/cimb43030118

Postmenopausal syndrome refers to symptoms caused by the gradual decrease in female hormones after mid-40 years. As a target organ of estrogen, decrease in estrogen causes various changes in brain function such as a decrease in choline acetyltransferase and brain-derived neurotrophic factor; thus, postmenopausal women experience cognitive decline and more depressive symptoms than age-matched men. Radix Polygalae has been used for memory boosting and as a mood stabilizer and its components have shown neuroprotective, antidepressant, and stress relief properties. In a mouse model of estrogen depletion induced by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide, Radix Polygalae was orally administered for 3 weeks. In these animals, cognitive and depression-related behaviors and molecular changes related to these behaviors were measured in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Radix Polygalae improved working memory and contextual memory and despair-related behaviors in 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide-treated mice without increasing serum estradiol levels in this model. In relation to these behaviors, choline acetyltransferase and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus and bcl-2-associated athanogene expression increased in the hippocampus. These results implicate the possible benefit of Radix Polygalae in use as a supplement of estrogen to prevent conditions such as postmenopausal depression and cognitive decline.