Effects of n-Hexane Extracts of Ocimum gratissimum and Momordica charantia Leaves on Learning and Memory in Scopolamine-induced Rat Model of Dementia
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Date
2019
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LASU Journal of Medical Sciences
Abstract
Objective: Cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil are being used to improve memory in people with dementia, but adverse effects associated with the use of these drugs coupled with cost have limited their use, hence the need to explore options in medicinal plants for the treatment of dementia. The aim of this study was to investigate the memory restorative effects of n-hexane extracts of Ocimum gratissimum (OG) and Momordica charantia (MC) in scopolamine-induced dementia in Wistar rats.
Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six treatment groups as follows: Control, Scopolamine only (1 mg/kg b.w), Donepezil (2 mg/kg b.w) + scopolamine (1 mg/kg b.w), OG (400 mg/kg b.w) + scopolamine (1 mg/kg b.w), MC (400 mg/kg b.w) + scopolamine (1 mg/kg b.w) and co-administration of OG and MC (400 mg/kg b.w each) + scopolamine (1 mg/kg b.w). The animals were treated for 15 days. Morris water maze, light and dark box test were conducted to evaluate learning and memory. Malondialdehyde (MDA) level and Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activities were also assessed using thiobarbituric acid procedure and Ellman method respectively.
Results: The result showed a significant reduction in escape latency, MDA level, AchE activity and a significant increase in the probing frequency in OG + scopolamine; MC + scopolamine and OG, MC + scopolamine treated groups when compared to the scopolamine only group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the escape latency, MDA, AchE activity and probing frequency between the extracts treated groups and donepenzil group.
Conclusion: The study concludes that n-hexane leaves extracts of OG and MC have the ability to restore memory impairment induced by scopolamine.