Involvement of Antioxidant System in the Amelioration of Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment by Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta K. Schum.) Extract

Abstract

Grains of paradise () K. Schum is used to flavour foods and used as memory enhancer and anti-aging in traditional African medicine. This study examine the influence of ethanolic seed extract of (AFM) on cognitive impairment induced by scopolamine in rodents. AFM (6.25, 12.5 or 25 mg/kg, .) or tacrine (5 mg/kg,.) was administered for 3 consecutive days, 1 h post-treatment on day 3, scopolamine (3 mg/kg, .) was given, 5 min later, cognition was evaluated in the Y-maze and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests in mice as well as the Morris water maze (MWM) paradigm in rats. Biomarkers of oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus of rats were evaluated after the MWM task. The antioxidant capacity of AFM was evaluated in vitro using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) and ferric ion reducing power (FRAP) assays. Scopolamine significantly reduced (38.72%) spontaneous alternation behavior in the Y-maze and increase in transfer latency in the EPM test on day 2, which was ameliorated by AFM (25 mg/kg; 49.86%, 71.55%, respectively) in mice. In addition, AFM prevented the spatial learning deficit induced by scopolamine in the MWM task. Similarly, scopolamine-induced oxidative-nitrosative stress was attenuated by AFM treatment, evidenced in decreased malondialdehyde and nitrite levels, restoration of glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels. Interestingly, AFM exhibited notable scavenging activities against DPPH, NO and FRAP radicals. These results showed that seed extract prevented scopolamine-induced memory impairments through enhancement of antioxidant defense systems.

Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp. seed extract ameliorates scopolamine-induced amnesia through increase in antioxidant defense mechanisms and cholinergic neurotransmission

“…Salimi et al (2022) posited that scopolamine-induced memory and learning impairment is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress which have also been linked with AD pathology. In this study, we evaluated the effect of scopolamine on spatial recognition memory in Y-maze (Ishola et al, 2016). Y-maze is a behavioural test used to investigate spatial recognition as well as spontaneous alternation behaviour in rodents .…”

“…In the event that the animal was unable to locate the hidden platform within 60 s, it was gently guided to it and allowed to stay on it for 10 s. Three trials were conducted on each day for four days (days 12-15) (designated as spatial acquisition phase). On day 16, a probe test was carried out to assess retention memory, during which the escape/hidden platform was removed from the pool and the total time spent by the animal within the quadrant of the platform location was recorded within 30s (Ishola et al, 2013;Ishola et al, 2016;Ishola et al, 2019).…”

Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp. seed extract ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia through increase in antioxidant defense mechanisms and cholinergic neurotransmission

“…8A and B). In addition, scopolamine have been reported to cause de cit in cognitive performance in rodent, hence in this study, we evaluated the effect of scopolamine on spatial recognition memory in Y-maze (Ishola et al, 2016;Ishola et al, 2020). Y-maze is a behavioural test used to investigate spatial recognition in rodents as well as spontaneous alternation behaviour in rodents (Ishola et al, 2020).…”

Psychopharmacological evaluation of antidepressant-like activity of ethanol seed extract of grains of paradise (Aframomum meleguetaK. Schum.)in mice

“…In West African folk medicine, the spice is valued for its warming and digestive properties as well as numerous medicinal effects such as alleviating stomach ache, diarrhea, hypertension with some limited reports on it being used for tuberculosis and as a remedy for snake bites and scorpion stings (Laurin, ). The natives of northern Nigeria widely chewed the seeds of AM for it presumed central nervous system stimulant and endurance promoting effects (Ishola, Awoyemi, & Afolayan, ). Moreover, the seed extract of AM is used as tonic in conditions associated with nervous weakness such as impotence and fatigue, which also represent prominent symptoms of major depression (Gautam et al, ).…”