Protective Effects of Acorus Tatarinowii Schott Water Decoction on Cognitive Function in Alzheimer's Disease Model Mice and Preliminary Exploration of Its Multi-target Mechanism

This study investigated the protective effects of Acorus tatarinowii Schott water decoction on cognitive function and its multi-target mechanism in APP/PS1 transgenic Alzheimer's disease (AD) model mice. Behavioral performance was evaluated using the Morris water maze and Y maze tests. Combined with analysis of hippocampal oxidative stress indicators (SOD, MDA, GSH), inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6), and neuronal morphology, the results showed that Acorus tatarinowii Schott water decoction significantly improved spatial learning and memory ability in model mice, upregulated antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD), reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA), restored antioxidant reserves (GSH), and inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors. Further mechanistic studies revealed that Acorus tatarinowii Schott exerts cognitive protective effects by alleviating oxidative stress, inhibiting neuroinflammation, and promoting neuronal plasticity (dendritic spine regeneration, synaptic protein expression), with synergistic effects between oxidative stress and inflammation. This study provides experimental evidence for the multi-target intervention of AD with traditional Chinese medicine compounds and expands the clinical application of Acorus tatarinowii Schott.