Effects of Weinaokang capsule on intracephalic cholinergic system and capability of scavenging free radicas in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rats

OBJECTIVE: To observe the intervention and mechanism of Weinaokang capsule (WNK) on cognitive impairment rats induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. METHOD: The bilateral common carotid arteries of rats were ligated. Rats were intragastrically administrated with WNK 4 weeks after the ligation. After 8 weeks of administration, persistent time of rats on finding the platform in MORRIS water maze was measured, meanwhile, content of acetylcholine (ACh) in brain tissue was measured by HPLC-ECD, activity of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), content of malonaldehyde (MDA) was measured by colorimetric method. RESULT: After 4-8 weeks of administration, the time of finding the platform in WNK group was significantly shorter than in the model group, activity of AChE in brain tissue was significantly reduced (P < 0. 05), content of ACh was significantly increased (P < 0.05-0.01), activity of SOD was significantly reinforced (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: WNK capsule can improve the cognitive impairment induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, and its mechanism may be associated with reinforcing the capability of scavenging free radical and protecting the cholinergic system.