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Anredera cordifolia, a perennial Basellaceae native to South America, was reported to possess numerous pharmacological activities, including anti-obesity, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effects of Anredera cordifolia on the central nervous system remain unknown. In this study, we examined the effects of Anredera cordifolia extract (ACE) on CREB phosphorylation and CRE-mediated transcription, an important pathway for memory formation, in PC 12 cells. Furthermore, the effects of ACE on SRE-mediated transcription and expression levels of c-fos, an immediate early gene induced in CRE- and SRE-dependent manners, were examined. ACE treatment induced a concentration-dependent increase in CREB phosphorylation and CRE-mediated transcription in PC 12 cells. SRE-mediated transcription was induced independent of the Trk receptor by ACE treatment. Lastly, mRNA expression of c-fos, which plays an important role in memory formation, was induced at 1 and 24 hr after ACE treatment. These results suggest that ACE is potentially useful for the treatment and prevention of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]