Abstract
We evaluated the Antiamnesic effects of methanolic extract of Syzygium cumini (MESC) on spatial memory impairments induced by scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.), a muscarinic antagonist, using the Radial arm maze, Morris water maze,
learned helpless ness tests. Effect of MESC was evaluated and compared to standard
drug, piracetam (200 mg/kg, i.p.). The MESC significantly (p < 0.05) improved the impairment of short term or working memory induced by scopolamine
in the Radial arm maze test, and significantly (p < 0.05) reversed cognitive impairments in rats as measured by the learned helplessness
test. In addition, MESC decreased escape latencies in the Morris water maze test.
The activity of acetylcholinesterase in the brain was inhibited significantly (p < 0.05) by treatment with MESC to a level similar to that observed in rats treated with
piracetam. Moreover treatment with MESC (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) to scopolamine induced rats significantly (p < 0.05) decreased TBARS levels which was accompanied by an increase in the activities
of SOD and Catalase. MESC has dose dependent effect and 400 mg/kg dose shown more prominent results when compared to 200 mg/kg dose of MESC. These results indicate that MESC may exert anti-amnesic activity via inhibition
of acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant mechanisms in the brain.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 04, 2012
Accepted:
February 21,
2012
Received in revised form:
February 14,
2012
Received:
August 19,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
