Korean J Nutr.  2004 Apr;37(3):176-181.

Effects of Pine Needle Butanol Fraction on Acetylcholine (ACh) and Its Related Enzymes in Brain of Rats

• Choi JH
• Kim DI
• Park SH
• Kim NJ
• Baek SJ
• Kim KJ
• Kim HS

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effects of buthanol (BuOH) fraction of pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb et Zucc) needle on cholesterol and lipofuscin (LF) accumulations, acetylcholine (ACh) and its related enzyme activities such as choline acetyltransferase (CAhT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and monoamone oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity, which destroyed the catecholamine-related neurotransmitters in brain membranes of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Male SD rats were fed basic diets (control group) or experimental diets (BuOH-25, BuOH-50 and BuOH-100) for 45 days. Cholesterol accumulations in mitochondria and microsomes were significantly inhibited (about 14 - 17% and 23 - 34%, respectvely) in BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups, whereas LF levels were significantly inhibited (about 10 - 14%) in BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups compared with control group. ACh levels and ChAT activities were significantly increased (about 11 - 17% and 11 - 23%, respectively) in membranes of BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups compared with control group. AChE activities were significantly increased (about 14 - 17%) in membranes of BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups. There was no significant difference in MAO-B activities between control and experimental diet groups. The results suggest that butanol fraction of pine needle may play an effective role in an antiaging effect and improving a learning and memory impairments.

Keyword

pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb et Zucc); lipofuscin (LF); acetylcholine (ACh); choline acetyltransferase(ChAT); acetylcholinesterase (AChE); monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B)

MeSH Terms

Acetylcholine*
Acetylcholinesterase
Animals
Brain*
Cholesterol
Choline O-Acetyltransferase
Diet
Humans
Learning
Lipofuscin
Male
Membranes
Memory
Microsomes
Mitochondria
Monoamine Oxidase
Needles*
Neurotransmitter Agents
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Acetylcholine
Acetylcholinesterase
Cholesterol
Choline O-Acetyltransferase
Lipofuscin
Monoamine Oxidase
Neurotransmitter Agents