Abstract

EVALUATION OF NOOTROPIC ACTIVTY OF ACOROUS CALAMUS AGAINST SCOPOLAMINE INDUCED ALZHEIMER'S

Valay Swathi* Ragavendra M., Sushma M., and V. Uma Maheswara Rao

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease is an age-associated, irreversible, progressive neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by severe memory loss, unusual behavior, personality changes and a decline in memory function. Several scientific studies have described the use of various medicinal plants and their constituents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Acorous calamus [sweet flag] is a well known plant which is being used in Indian traditional medicine, as anti-oxidant of CNS associated disorders. Methods: In the present study, albino Wistar rats were used and divided in to 5 groups each group consists 6 animals. Group I treated as control group (Normal saline), Group II treated as negative control (Scopolamine 1 mg/kg i.p), Group III and IV treated as experimental low and high doses of plant extract (200, 400 mg/kg p.o), Group V treated as standard group (piracetam 150mg/kg i.p) respectively. Elevated plus maze, Y-maze, Morries water maze task are the behavioral models for the testing of Alzheimer's disease. Scopolamine induced Alzheimer's served as the interoceptive behavioural models. Results: The results suggested that dried rhizome ethonolic extract of Acorous calamus has potential effects against to the scopolamine induced Alzheimer's by regulating AchE activity, free radical scavenging activity. Conclusion: It is concluded that the dried rhizome ehonolic extract of Acorous calamus having the ability to reduce the progenosis of Alzheimer's disease in rats.

Keywords: Acorous calamus, Alzheimer's, Scopolamine, Anti-oxidant, AchE.