Gami-Chunghyuldan ameliorates memory impairment and neurodegeneration induced by intrahippocampal Aβ1-42 oligomer injection

Soluble oligomeric forms of amyloid beta (A beta O) are regarded as a main cause of synaptic and cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and have been a primary target in the development of drug treatments for AD. The present study utilized a mouse model of AD induced by intrahippocampal injection of A beta O (10 mu M) to investigate the effects of Gami-Chunghyuldan (GCD), a standardized multi-herbal medicinal formula, on the presentation of memory deficits and neurohistological pathogenesis. GCD (10 and 50 mg/kg/day, 5 days, p.o.) improved A beta O-induced memory impairment as well as reduced neuronal cell death, astrogliosis, and microgliosis in the hippocampus. In addition, GCD prevented A beta O-triggered synaptic disruption and cholinergic fiber loss. These results suggest that GCD may be useful in the prevention and treatment of AD. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.