Neuroprotective effects of quercetin 3-O-sophoroside from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. on scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice

[Display omitted] •Quercetin 3-O-sophoroside (Q3OS) was isolated from HRS for the first time.•Q3OS exerted neuroprotective effects on scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice.•Q3OS modified the cholinergic system function to exert neuroprotective effects.•Q3OS from HRS could be potentially used to prevent and treat AD. Quercetin 3-O-sophoroside (Q3OS) was isolated and identified from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. (HRS) for the first time. Although Q3OS is common glycosides, its therapeutic potential and mechanism of action against Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have rarely been reported. The results demonstrated that Q3OS treatment effectively ameliorated learning and memory impairment in mice with scopolamine (SCOP)-induced cognitive dysfunction by using the Morris water maze test. Nissl staining results revealed that Q3OS administration blocked neuronal loss in the hippocampal CA1 region. Immunohistochemistry and western blot results also indicated that Q3OS reversed the SCOP-induced decrease in ChAT expression, increase in AChE expression, and decrease in ACh. These findings suggested that Q3OS from HRS could be potentially used to prevent and treat AD, by exerting neuroprotective effects and these effects could be in response to its modification of the cholinergic system function. HRS can be potentially used as a neuroprotective nutrient in the prevention of AD.