Antiamnesic activity of Syzygium cumini against scopolamine induced spatial memory impairments in rats

摘要

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.