Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of Epimedium flavanoids (EF) on neuro-inflammatory reaction in Alzheimer disease (AD) mice model.Methods β-amyloid_1-40 (Aβ_1-40) was injected to the right lateral ventricle of 2-month-old male ICR mice to induce AD model. Morris water maze and step-through tests were used to measure the learning and memory ability of mice. The concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the hippocampus were determined by radioimmunoassay. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive cells (astrocytes) was detected by immunochemistry staining.Results Compared with the sham-operation group, the learning and memory ability decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampus increased (P<0.01) and the expression of astrocytes in the hippocampus elevated (P<0.05) in Aβ_1-40 injection model mice. Intragastric administration of EF (100 and 300 mg/kg) for 3 weeks significantly improved the learning and memory ability (P<0.05, P<0.01), decreased IL-1β and TNF-α concentrations in the hippocampus (P<0.05, P<0.01) and inhibited the expression of astrocytes in the hippocampus (P<0.05), compared with Aβ_1-40 injection model mice.Conclusion EF can decrease the inflammatory reaction in the brain of mice induced by Aβ.

Key words: Epimedium flavanoids, Alzheimer disease, β-amyloid, inflammation