α-Isocubebenol alleviates scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment by repressing acetylcholinesterase activity.

•ICO pre-intake may protect against the long-term memory defect induced by SP injection.•ICO pretreatment could induce suppression of the AChE activity in the hippocampus of ICR mice.•The increased ERK phosphorylation induced by ICO pretreatment could activate neuronal cell survival signaling pathways in the hippocampus.•Our findings indicate the potential of ICO for use in the prevention and treatment of AD in humans.