Cognitive-enhancing effect of polysaccharides from Flammulina velutipes on Alzheimer's disease by compatibilizing with ginsenosides

This study was performed to evaluate the cognitive-enhancing effect Flammulina velutipes polysaccharides (FVP) by compatibilizing with ginsenosides on D-galactose-induced Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats. Results of the Morris water maze test suggested that the cognitive ability of AD rats was significantly elevated after combined treatment with FVP and ginsenosides. Moreover, the anti-oxidant effect was also elevated as reflected by the increased levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase and decreased levels of malondialdehyde in the combination group. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL), immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis showed that the TUNEL apoptosis cell rate, Bax, cytochrome C, caspase-3, caspase-9, and apoptosis-inducing factor expression levels were obviously decreased, and the Bcl-2 expression levels were obviously increased in the hippocampi of rats treated with FVP and ginsenosides. The results suggested that the beneficial effect of FVP against AD can be significantly elevated by compatibilizing with ginsenosides. These findings provide scientific evidence supporting the use of FVP as a safe and effective drug to prevent and treat AD.