Abstract

Salidroside, a phenol glycoside isolated from Rhodiola rosea, has been reported to have many pharmacological properties, among which are the protective effects against neuronal death. Salidroside has the best pharmacological effects at the concentration of 50 mg/kg Salidroside (po) for rodents. A diabetic encephalopathy rat model has been generated in this research. After treating with salidroside, the blood glucose reduced and body weight increased in rats. Morris water maze test indicated that salidroside could improve memory and learning ability, because it can protect the brain, promote neurons growth and balance neuron growth factors. Salidroside can also keep biochemistry markers and morphology normal in hippocampus. All these suggest that salidroside may be a potential drug for the treatment of diabetic encephalopathy and other nervous system diseases.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, salidroside, hippocampus, Morris water maze tests, oxidative stress, signal pathway.