Reinforcement effects of Boschniakia rossica on discrimination learning in cholinergic lesions of rats.

The dried herb or stem of Boschniakia rossica (Boschniakiae Herba) has been used as an antisenile agent in the Jilin Province of China. To elucidate the effects of Boschniakiae Herba on decreased learning ability and memory weakness, a 50% ethanol extract of Boschniakiae Herba was administered to rats whose nucleus basalis of Meynert had been destroyed by the injection of ibotenic acid. This administration showed a significant improvement in the decrease of the ratio of correct responses caused by destruction of the nucleus basalis of Meynert. These results suggest that B. rossica would be therapeutic in senility.