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Global Translational Medicine Comparative study of Schisandra species on VCI

cognitive impairment, several behavioral experiments the MOD group compared to the CON group (P < 0.05)
were conducted in BCAS mice. The mNSS revealed no (Figure 3D). Notably, SCF (400 mg/kg) treatment
significant limb-curl and tail-lift reflexes among all groups significantly restored exploratory preference compared
at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-operatively (Figure 3A), to the MOD group (P < 0.05), whereas SSF (400 mg/kg)
indicating normal neurological function and ensuring that showed a trend toward cognitive improvement without
cognitive impairment assessments were not confounded statistical significance (P > 0.05).
by motor deficits. Similarly, the open field test showed In the MWM test, baseline escape latency showed no
no significant differences in total distances traveled significant difference among groups. However, BCAS
(Figure 3B), implying that BCAS surgery did not affect mice exhibited a significant increase in escape latency
motor or optic nerve function. on days 3 – 5 (P < 0.01, compared to control mice). SCF
Furthermore, during the NORT, no significant treatment significantly reduced the escape latency (p<0.01)
preference differences were observed for two old objects (Figure 3E). During the spatial exploration test, BCAS
among groups during the training phase (Figure 3C). mice in the MOD group exhibited a significantly decreased
However, after BCAS surgery, mice exhibited reduced number of platform crossing (P < 0.01) (Figure 3F), a
curiosity toward the new object, as indicated by a significantly decreased frequency of target quadrant
significantly decreased relative discrimination index in crossing (P < 0.01) (Figure 3H), and less time spent in

A B C

D E F

G H I

Figure 3. Effects of SCF and SSF on exploratory locomotor behavior and spatial learning memory following BCAS surgery. (A) mNSS at different time
points. (B) Total distance traveled in the open field test on day 29 post-BCAS. (C) Relative preference index and (D) relative discrimination index in the
novel object recognition test on day 32. (E) Escape latency in Morris water maze navigation test at different time points. (F-I) Frequency of platform
crossings, time spent in the target quadrant, frequency of target quadrant crossings, and swimming speed in the Morris water maze probe test on day 38.
#
Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n = 8 per group). Notes: *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01, compared with the BCAS group (MOD); P < 0.05 and P < 0.01,
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compared with the control group (CON). POS: Positive control.
Abbreviations: SCF: Schisandra chinensis; SSF: Schisandra sphenanthera; BCAS: Bilateral common carotid artery stenosis; mNSS: Modified neurological
severity score.

Volume 4 Issue 1 (2025) 95 doi: 10.36922/gtm.6879