Huperzia saururus activity on synaptic transmission in the hippocampus

M.G. ORTEGA, M.G. VALLEJO, J.L. CABRERA, M.F. PÉREZ , R.S. ALMIRÓN, O.A. RAMÍREZ , A.M. AGNESE

JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY

Elsevier

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2006 p. 374 - 374

0378-8741

b> Abstract Huperzia saururus (Lam.) Trevis. (Lycopodiaceae) known as cola de quirquincho is used in folk medicine to improve memory. The cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain, including those in the medial septum, and in the vertical limbs of the diagonal band of Broca and the nucleus basalis of Meynert, provide a major source of cholinergic enervation of the cortex and hippocampus. These neurons have also been shown to play an important role in learning and memory processes. Thus, the effects of this traditional Argentinean species were studied in relation to its activity on synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. The alkaloid extract obtained first by decoction of the aerial parts and by subsequent alkaline extraction, was