Effects of the Combination of Astragalus and Angelica on Cognitive and Memory Functions in Alzheimer's Disease Model Mice

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the combination of Astragalus and Angelica on cognitive and memory functions in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) model mice. Male ICR mice were divided into six groups: normal control, positive control (donepezil hydrochloride), model, and treatment groups (high, medium, and low doses of Astragalus-Angelica decoction), with six mice in each group. The AD model was established by administering D-galactose and sodium nitrite. Starting from the third week of modeling, the treatment groups received intragastric administration of 80, 40, and 20 mg/kg Astragalus-Angelica decoction, respectively, while the positive control group received 0.65 mg/kg donepezil hydrochloride via intragastric administration. On day 46 of the experiment, spontaneous alternation rate, novel object preference index, organ indices (brain, thymus, and spleen), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in the hippocampus were measured. Results showed that, compared to the model group, the spontaneous alternation rates and novel object preference indices in all treatment groups were significantly increased (P<0.05), hippocampal MDA levels were significantly reduced (P<0.01), and SOD and GSH-Px activities were elevated (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in organ indices (P>0.05). These findings indicate that the Astragalus-Angelica decoction significantly improves impaired cognitive and memory functions in AD model mice, potentially through mechanisms involving enhanced antioxidant capacity in the hippocampus and mitigation of cellular aging.