Abstract

NEUROPROTECTIVE AND MEMORY ENHANCING EFFECT OF THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF Hamelia patens linn (LEAVES) BY USING SCOPOLAMINE INDUCED COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

M. Sankari*, Parvatha Raja Kumaran, Dr. A. Meena and Dr. A. Shanthy

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative illness associated with dementia which is most prevalent among the elderly population. The present study was focused to investigate the neuroprotective and memory enhancing activity of Hamelia patens on scopolamine induced cognitive impairments in rats. The ethanolic extract of Hamelia patens (150mg/Kg & 300mg/Kg) and Donepezil (2.5mg/Kg) were orally administered for 14 consecutive days. Dementia was induced by the administration of scopolamine (1mg/Kg i.p). The behavioral studies were conducted by using conditioned avoidance, Y maze and radial arm maze method. The phytochemical studies revealed the presence of Coumarins, Flavonoids and Terpenoids. By Using Radial arm maze we found that the Ethanolic extract of Hamelia patens produced significant reduction in reference and working memory errors (p<0.0001)*** when compared to Control group. In passive avoidance test after treated with Ethanolic extract Hamelia patens there is significant difference in Initial transfer Latency(ITL)& Step through Latency(STL) when compared to Control group (p<0.0001)***.The present research significantly improve cognitive impairment against Scopolamine induced memory deficient. The positive effect of the treatment on memory suggests the therapeutic potential of this extract in aging and age-related neurodegenerative disorders where cognitive impairment is involved.

Keywords: Hamelia patens, Radial arm maze, Donepezil, Y maze.