Objective: To study the protective effect of coeloglossum extract (CE)

an exact isolated from a Tibetan traditional herb

against ibotenic acid (IBO)-induced cholinergic injury in rats. Method: Rats were randomly assigned into six groups: sham(NS)

model(IBO)

piracetam(IBO+400 mg·kg-1)

and CE(IBO+0.31

1.25

5 mg·kg-1)groups. After 28 days

step-down test was employed to evaluate the learning and memory function

Nissl staining was adopted to detect the Nissl body changes in basal forebrain

and immunohistochemical staining was used to examine the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) in hippocampus CA1. Result: Compared with the sham group

rats in model group exhibited a shorter latency to platform

and lower levels of nissl body in frontal cortexes and of NFG in hippocampus CA1.Compared with the model rats

CE(5 mg·kg-1) prolonged significantly the latency of step-down test (P<0.05)

partly recovered the pathological changes in basal forebrain

and increased the level of NGF in hippocampus CA1(P<0.05). Conclusion: These results suggested that CE can improve the cholinergic impairment and the disability of learning and memory in IBO rats.