Brahmi rasayana Improves Learning and Memory in Mice

Abstract

Cure of cognitive disorders such as amnesia, attention deficit and Alzheimer's disease is still a nightmare in the field of medicine. Nootropic agents such as piracetam, aniracetam and choline esterase inhibitors like Donepezil® are being used to improve memory, mood and behavior, but the resulting side effects associated with these agents have made their use limited. The present study was undertaken to assess the potential of Brahmi rasayana (BR) as a memory enhancer. BR (100 and 200 mg kg−1 p.o.) was administered for eight successive days to both young and aged mice. Elevated plus maze and passive-avoidance paradigm were employed to evaluate learning and memory parameters. Scopolamine (0.4 mg kg−1 i.p.) was used to induce amnesia in mice. The effect of BR on whole brain AChE activity was also assessed. Piracetam (200 mg kg−1 i.p.) was used as a standard nootropic agent. BR significantly improved learning and memory in young mice and reversed the amnesia induced by both scopolamine (0.4 mg kg−1 i.p.) and natural aging. BR significantly decreased whole brain acetyl cholinesterase activity. BR might prove to be a useful memory restorative agent in the treatment of dementia seen in elderly.

Antiamnesic Effects of <i>Desmodium gangeticum</i> in Mice

“…43) Our researcĥ ndings using Zingiber o‹cinale, Brahmi rasayana and Hibiscus sabdariŠa have displayed a link between memory improving eŠect and cholinesterase activity. [44][45][46] In the present study, the aqueous extract of salparni signiˆcantly decreased the AChE levels in the mice whole brain homogenate, indicating its potential in the attenuation of severity of Alzheimer's disease.…”

Pharmacological evidences for antiamnesic potentials of Phyllanthus amarus in mice

“…Retention (memory) was tested after 24 h (i.e. 9 th day, 24h after last dose) in a similar manner, except that the electric shocks were not applied to the grid floor observing an upper cut-off time of 300 seconds (Joshi et al, 2006b(Joshi et al, , 2006c. Significant increase in SDL value indicated improvement in memory.…”

Antiaging effect of Cordyceps sinensis extract

“…When electric shocks were delivered, mice jumped to the platform. Twenty-four hours after training, the mice were placed on the platform for testing, and the step-down latency and the number of errors within 3 min were recorded (Joshi and Parle, 2006). Histological studies.…”