Anti-Alzheimer's disease effect of essential oil from aerial parts of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge

The present study aimed to identify the anti-AD effect of essential oil from aerial parts of S. Miltiorrhiza. The essential oil from aerial parts of S. Miltiorrhiza was obtained by steam distillation and then was analyzed through GC-MS. The AD mice model was induced by D-gal plus AlCl3, and then the mice in the experimental group were treated with essential oil from aerial parts of S. Miltiorrhiza. The protective effects of essential oil on the memory impairment of mice were determined by Morris water maze test. The contents or activity of SOD, CAT, MDA, Ach and AchE in mice brain homogenate and serum were analyzed by Biochemical Determinations (SOD, CAT, MDA, Ach and AchE kits were used). The result showed that terpenoids was the main components of essential oil from aerial parts of S. Miltiorrhiza, accounting for about 50.18% of the total essential oil, and beta-caryophyllene (8.58%), 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (7.97%), dihydro-neoproene (7.96%), germacrene D (6.37%) caryop, hyllene (4.22%) were the main and characteristic compositions of the essential oil. The essential oil, given orally, prevented cognitive impairment in AD mice induced by D-gal plus AlCl3. Compared to the model group, SOD activity, CAT activity and Ach content were found to be increased in test group mice, while AchE activity and MDA content were decreased. All the above suggest that essential oil from aerial parts of S. Miltiorrhiza improve AD-like symptoms in mice induced by D-gal and AlCl3, and has the potential to develop a new drug for the treatment of AD.