Abstract

EVALUATION OF NOOTROPIC ACTIVTY OF CAYRATIA TRIFOLIA IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL MODELS

Madiya Darshan Natvarlal, Sunil B. Bothara*

ABSTRACT

Background: Cognitive dysfunction is a major health problem in 21st century, one of the most functionally devastating aspect of many neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative disorders. Cayratia trifolia Linn. is a native of India, Asia and Australia. In India it is found in Jammu, Rajasthan, Assam, Tripura and West Bengal. Aim: The aim of present study was to study the nootropic effect of aqueous extract of Cayratia trifolia (AECT) and hydro-alcoholic extract of Cayratia trifolia (HAECT) by using various animal models. Materials and methods: The models used for the study of nootropic activity of AECT and HAECT were step down passive avoidance, conditioned avoidance response, sodium nitrite induced amnesia, and estimation of acetyl cholinesterase enzyme activity in mice brain. The AECT (500 mg/kg) and HAECT (500 mg/kg) was suspended in distilled water and dministered orally to mice. Piracetam was administered orally as a standard drug. Control animals receive equivalent volume of distilled water. Results: Scopolamine and sodium nitrate control group significantly decreased the step down latency (SDL) in learning and memory trials. On treatment with AECT (500 mg/kg) and HAECT (500 mg/kg) significantly reversed scopolamine and sodium nitrate induced spatial memory impairment as compared to negative control group. In conditioned avoidance response, AECT (500 mg/kg) and HAECT (500 mg/kg) significantly delayed time taken by the mice to climb the pole while in the plus-maze test, mice treated with AECT (500 mg/kg) and HAECT (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced transfer latency (TL). Pre-treatment with AECT (500 mg/kg) and HAECT (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced Acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Conclusion: The present study suggests that aqueous extract and hydro-alcoholic extract of Cayratia trifolia has nootropics activity.

Keywords: Nootropic, Cayratia trifolia, Learning and memory.