Abstract

EVALUATION OF MEMORY ENHANCING POTENTIAL OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF TERMINALIA BELERICA (EETB) AGAINST SCOPOLAMINE INDUCED AMNESIA IN WISTAR RATS

Rajnish Kumar*, Sumit Sharma and Lalit Parihar

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative brain disease which is characterized by impairment in cognitive functioning. Terminalia bellirica (Combretaceae) is a medicinal plant found around Southeast Asia that has been employed as treatments for various diseases. Terminalia bellirica extract contains many active compounds that have been shown to possess various pharmacological properties whereby in vitro studies have demonstrated neuroprotective as well as cholinesterase inhibitory effects. This study therefore aimed at determining whether this Malaysian plant derived tannins can reverse scopolamine induced learning and memory dysfunction. In the present study we are investigate the memory Enhancing potenial of Terminalia bellirica in scopolamine induced amnesia in Albino wistar rats. Wistar rats (180-200g) are exercise on morris water maze and Elevated plus maze. Each animal receive session of 14 trails. Duration of 15s on the 14th day. Scopolamine (3mg/kg,i.p) has administer at different time periods on the basis of stages of memoryi.e acquisition, consolidation and retention in different groups (n=6). Effect of Terminalia belerica extract has been evaluate and compare to a standard drug Piracetam, significant (p<0.05) increase in the exteroceptive aversive stimuli response on the 14th session has been observed as compared to previous session in control group. Scopolamine treatment significantly (p<0.05) reduced the exteroceptive aversive stimuli response compare to control. Extract treated groups shown significant (p<0.05) increase in number of exteroceptive aversive stimuli response as compare to scopolamine treated groups. AChE activity has been also improve after TERMINALIA bellirica treatment. Results of the study have shown that Terminalia bellirica treated groups increase the memory enhancing potential by increasing learning of memory through decreasing AChE activity.

Keywords: Terminalia bellirica, Piracetam, Memory Enhancing Potential, Amnesia, Alzheimer’s disease, Scopolamine, Elevated Plus Maze, Morris water Maze, Acetylcholinesterase.