Effects of extracts from Cordyceps sinensis on M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in vitro and in vivo

ts of extracts from Cordyceps sinensis on M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor in vitro and in vivo Other (3609) Total Article Views Authors: Tomohiro Chiba, Marina Yamada, Kosuke Torii, et al Published Date August 2010 Volume 2010:3 Pages 97 - 104 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/JRLCR.S11118 Tomohiro Chiba1, Marina Yamada1, Kosuke Torii2, Masataka Suzuki1, Jumpei Sasabe1, Minoru Ito2, Kenzo Terashita1, Sadakazu Aiso1 1Department of Anatomy, Keio University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; 2Department of Research and Development, Noevir Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Abstract: Cholinergic dysfunction is implicated in the pathogenesis of memory impairment related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Accordingly, regulation of M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M1 mAChR) has been one of the major targets in the development of novel drugs for AD. Utilizing an in vitro system for evaluation of the M1 mAChR, we have recently identified that extracts from Cordyceps sinensis (CS) promote M1 mAChR function. In this study, we examined the effect of pretreatment with several types of CS extracts in F11 neurohybrid cells on ERK phosphorylation induced by a muscarinic agonist, carbachol (CCh). A mixed extract of a hot water extract and an ethanol extract from CS augmented ERK phosphorylation by CCh presumably through upregulation of M1 mAChR function. We further examined the effect of oral administration of CS extracts on memory impairment induced by a muscarinic antagonist scopolamine in mice, finding that CS extracts ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia in vivo, consistent with the in vitro data. Thus CS extracts may contribute to the prevention of memory impairment related to AD.