The Anti-Amnesic Effects of the Water Extract of Jujubae Fructus

Jujubae Fructus (JF), the dried fruit of Ziziphus jujuba Mill., is mainly used as a tonic and sedative in traditional Chinese medicine. This study examined the anti-amnesic effects of JF on scopolamine (1mg/kg,i.p.)-and β-amyIoid peptide (25-35) (3nmol/mouse, i.c.v.)-induced amnesia in the step-through passive avoidance tasks in mice. The results showed that the water extract of JF (0.15-0.5g/kg, i.p.) administered immediately after the training trial significantly attenuated both scopolamine- and β-amyloid peptide (25-35)-induced amnesia. Using scopolamine-induced amnesia as a bioassay for further isolation of the active principle(s), we found that the anti-amnesic active principle(s) existed in the ethyl acetate fraction when the water extract or 85% ethanol extract of JF was partitioned into ethyl acetate and water fractions. Therefore, the present study demonstrated for the first time that JF contains anti-amnesic principle(s), which can attenuate scopolamine- and β-amyloid peptide (25-35)-induced amnesia.