Objective: To investigate the influence of Shugan Jieyu capsule(SGJY) on learning and memory ability in model mice with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Method: Seventy-two Kunming (KM) mice were randomly divided into six groups such as normal group

model group

huperzine A(Hup A) group(0.07 mg·kg-1)and SGJY groups (480

240

120 mg·kg-1). The mice were gavaged once a day for 14 days

then induced by scopolamine hydrobromide (ip

3 mg·kg-1) except normal group. The effect of SGJY was studied via Morris water maze test and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in plasma and brain tissue were detected. Randomly selected 10 non-APPswe transgenic mice were as normal group

other 50 APPswe transgenic mice with high expression of presenilin (PS) and amyloid precusor protein (APP) were divided into five groups as above

the mice were gavaged once a day for 30 days

then the effect of SGJY on learning and memory ability was evaluated by step-down test and water maze test. Result: Compared with normal groups

the levels of latencies and total distances before escaping onto the security platform increased significantly(P<0.05

P<0.01). Compared with model groups

SGJY groups in various dosage (480

240

120 mg·kg-1) could shorten the latency period to escape from electric shock. In Morris water maze test

three groups of SGJY could shorten latencies and total distances before escaping onto the security platform at different levels. The effect was the most obvious in the group of high and middle dose SGJY(P<0.01)

which showed dose-effect relationship. Meanwhile

we also found that the SGJY of three different doses could significantly decrease the levels of MDA and increase that of T-AOC in brain tissue (P<0.01). Conclusion: SGJY has marked effect of improving the learning and memory abilities of AD model mice.