Zanthoxylum alatum ameliorates scopolamine-induced amnesia in rats: Behavioral, biochemical, and molecular evidence

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:Hydroethanolic extract of Zanthoxylum alatum seeds (HEZA) in scopolamine-induced amnesia was investigated for memory enhancing activity.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Radial arm maze (RAM) test was performed to evaluate the behavioral activity. Rats were treated with HEZA (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, p. o.) and tacrine (3 mg/kg. i. p.) for 14 days. Scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg) was injected i. p. into rats after 45 min of drug administration on the 14th day. The messenger RNA (mRNA)/protein profile of few markers (acetylcholinesterase [AChE], heme oxygenase-1 [HO-1], nuclear factor-kappa B [NFκB], nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 [Nrf2], protein phosphatase 2A[PP2A], Tau, brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], tropomyosin-related kinase B [TrkB], Bcl-2-associated X protein [Bax], and Caspase-3) were also measured by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunoblotting assay. Brain cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], interleukin [IL]-1 β, and IL-10) in hippocampus were evaluated using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.RESULTS:HEZA exhibited anti-amnesic activity as indicated by a significant reduction in the working memory error and reference memory error in RAM. Pretreatment with HEZA significantly down-regulated the expression of AChE, NFκB, Tau, Bax, and Caspase-3 with simultaneous up-regulation of Nrf2, HO-1, PP2A, BDNF, and TrkB genes in the hippocampal tissues similar to tacrine when compared with scopolamine-treated rats. Pretreatment with HEZA attenuated scopolamine-induced elevation of TNF-α, IL-1 β, levels in hippocampus and reversed diminished IL-10 concentrations towards normal levels in the brain.CONCLUSION:Zanthoxylum alatum seeds could probably counteract amnesia. Since its use is mainly reported as a stimulant and tonic, this novel activity could be a boon for the scientists to explore more in this direction.

Studies of the Anti-amnesic Effects and Mechanisms of Single and Combined Use of Donepezil and Ginkgo Ketoester Tablet on Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment in Mice

“…Scopolamine, as an inhibitor of the central nervous system, was used widely to generate amnesia in animal models and was able to lead to a transient disruption of memory by increasing the AChE activity [46–48]. As a result, in this study, the neuroprotective and memory-enhancing effects of donepezil, GT, and the combination had been investigated based on an animal model of amnesia.…”

Thionyl Chloride Catalyzed Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activities of Some 2-Benzylidene-1-Tosylhydrazines

“…Fourier transform infrared spectra (KBr, 4000-400 cm -1 ) have been documented on AVATAR-300 FT-IR spectrophotometer. The BRUKER-500MHz NMR spectrometers were used for noted proton and 13 C spectra in the CDCl3 solvent using tetramethylsilane as internal standard. Microanalysis of all compounds was performed in Thermofinnigan CHN analyzer.…”

“…6 Pharmacophoric hydrazone derivatives are newly designed based on highly bio-activity, appear vital activity and biologically important position. The interesting and valuable field for variety of heterocyclic compounds prepared from sulphur hydrazides, because they have medication active like antibacterial, 7 exhibit a great interest due to their importance in synthesis a which have antifungal, 8 antiinflammatory 9 herbicidal, 10 inhibitory activity, 11 analgesic activity, 12 anticholinergic and antihistaminic, 13 activity of regulating growth in plant 14 etc. Within the above view, no information available in literature in the past for synthesis and infectious activities of 2-benzylidene-1-tosylhydrazines.…”

A review on effective utilization, phytochemical compounds, pharmacological intervention of a popularly used plant for developing a new drug: Zanthoxylum armatum with reference to its anticancer activity

“…We, for the first time conducted detail study as memory enhancer using various extracts and its hydroalcoholic extract reverted scopolamine induced amnesia in mice, which was subsequently substantiated with biochemical, immunological, molecular study as well. 32…”