The Ameliorating Effect of Steamed and Fermented Codonopsis lanceolata on Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment in Mice

Codonopsis lanceolata(Campanulaceae) have been traditionally used to treat lung inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, tonsillitis, and pharyngitis. The present study was performed to evaluate the cognitive-enhancing effects of steamed and fermentedC. lanceolatain scopolamine-induced memory impairments in mice. Cognitive abilities were determined by the Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests. Mice orally received fermentedC. lanceolataextract at doses of 100, 300, or 500 mg/kg body weight. FermentedC. lanceolataextract (500 mg/kg body weight, p.o.) significantly shortened the escape latency times that were increased by scopolamine on the 4th day of trial sessions in the Morris water maze task. In addition, it exerted longer step-through latency times than those of the scopolamine-treated group in the passive avoidance test. Furthermore, the neuroprotective effects of fermentedC. lanceolataextract on glutamate-induced neurocytotoxicity were investigated in HT22 cells. FermentedC. lanceolataextract showed a relative protection ratio of 59.62% at 500 μg/mL. In conclusion, fermentedC. lanceolataextract ameliorated scopolamine-induced memory impairments, exerted neuroprotective effects, and improved activity compared to that found with originalC. lanceolata. Further study will be required to investigate the mechanisms underlying this cognitive-enhancing activity.