Huperzia saururus, activity on synaptic transmission in the hippocampus

Huperzia saururus (Lam.) Trevis. (Lycopodiaceae) known as cola de quirquincho is used in folk medicine to improve memory. The cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain, including those in the medial septum, and in the vertical limbs of the diagonal band of Broca and the nucleus basalis of Meynert,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of ethnopharmacology 2006-04, Vol.104 (3), p.374-378
Main Authors: Ortega, M.G., Vallejo, M.G., Cabrera, J.L., Pérez, M.F., Almirón, R.S., Ramírez, O.A., Agnese, A.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
alkaloids
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
brain damage
chemical constituents of plants
Electrophysiological assays
Electrophysiology
ethnobotany
General pharmacology
hippocampus
Hippocampus - drug effects
Hippocampus - physiology
Huperzia
Huperzia saururus
In Vitro Techniques
Long-Term Potentiation - drug effects
Lycopodium alkaloids
Male
Medical sciences
medicinal plants
medicinal properties
memory
Memory and learning
memory improver
Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
plant extracts
Plant Extracts - pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
synaptic transmission
Synaptic Transmission - drug effects
traditional medicine
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Summary:Huperzia saururus (Lam.) Trevis. (Lycopodiaceae) known as cola de quirquincho is used in folk medicine to improve memory. The cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain, including those in the medial septum, and in the vertical limbs of the diagonal band of Broca and the nucleus basalis of Meynert, provide a major source of cholinergic enervation of the cortex and hippocampus. These neurons have also been shown to play an important role in learning and memory processes. Thus, the effects of this traditional Argentinean species were studied in relation to its activity on synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. The alkaloid extract obtained first by decoction of the aerial parts and by subsequent alkaline extraction, was purified by using a Sephadex LH 20 packed column. Electrophysiological experiments were developed with the purified extract ( E 2) on rat hippocampus slices, thus eliciting long-term potentiation (LTP). Results show a marked increase in the hippocampal synaptic plasticity. The threshold value for generation of LTP was 22 ± 1.01 Hz on average for E 2, while for controls it was 86 ± 0.92 Hz. All of these factors could explain the use of Huperzia saururus as a memory improver as is reported in the ethnomedicine.
ISSN:0378-8741
1872-7573
DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2005.11.002