Experimental study on memory and anti-fatigue effects of Polygonum multiflorum

Objective To explore the memory and anti-fatigue effects of Polygonum multiflorum on mice. Methods The effects of Polygonum multiflorum extract on memory and anti-fatigue in mice were studied by step down test,Morris water maze test,pole-climbing test,weight-loaded swimming test and hepatic glycogen test (anti-fatigue experiment) at low,medium and high doses (2.6,7.8,and 23.4 g/kg) ,respectively. Results ①In the step down test,the average number of mistakes reduced significantly in the mice in the group intragastrically administered with Polygonum multiflorum at high dose in the first day of testing and the re-test after 24 hours (P0.05),while fewer error times were recorded in the group of mice intragastrically administered with Polygonum multiflorum at high dose in water maze test;②In anti-fatigue effect experiments,it was showed that the time in the glass rod was prolonged significantly in the group of mice intragastrically administered with Polygonum multiflorum extract at high doses (P0.05). And it was found that the survival time of swimming of the mice fed with Polygonum multiflorum extract at high doses in weight-loaded swimming test was significantly longer than that in the normal group. Significant decrease of liver glycogen in the group ingrastrically administered with Polygonum multiflorum extract at low dose was found in hepatic glycogen assay after biopsy.Conclusion Memory-improving effects in mice intragastrically administered with Polygonum multiflorum extract at the dose of 23.4 g/kg were observed,and anti-fatigue effects in mice intragastrically administered with Polygonum multiflorum extract at the doses higher than 7.8 g/kg were observed.