Objective: To observe the effect of chrysophanol(Chry) on learning and memory impairment and lead level in lead pisoning mice. Method: Mice except control group were administered 7 mg·kg-1 lead acetate by peritoneal injection every day for 8 days to establish the mice lead poisoning model. Chry was ip injected for 14 days.Learning memory was examined by step-down test.The lead level of heart

spleen

liver and kidney was measured by hydride generated-atomic absorption spectrographic method.Antioxidant enzyme levels glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)

superoxide dismutase(SOD) and lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehydel MDA) in liver and kidney were determined. Result: Lead acetate could (induce the disorder of learning and memory of mice

lead acetate also could significantly increase the lead level of heart

spleen

liver and kidney in lead poisoning mice. Lead acetate could decrease the activities of SOD and GSH-Px of mice liver and kidney.Compared with model group

the lead levels of mice heart

spleen

liver and kidney were markedly decreased after treated with Chry(10.0

1.0

0.1 mg·kg-1) for 14 days(P<0.01).Chry(10.0

1.0 mg·kg-1) could significantly increase the SOD and GSH-Px activity and could decrease the content of MDA in mice liver and kidney(P<0.01).Chry(0.1 mg·kg-1) could increase the SOD and GSH-Px activity and could decrease the content of MDA in mice kidney(P<0.01)

but Chry(0.1 mg·kg-1)had no significantly influence on the SOD and GSH-Px activity and the content of MDA in mice liver (P<0.01). Conclusion: Chry could obviously improve the learning and memory ability in mice with lead poisoning

and reduce lead levels in mice tissues with lead poisoning

Chry also could increase the activity of antioxidant enzyme and decrease the lipid peroxidation caused by lead poisoning mice.