Zataria Multiflora Boiss Improves Learning And Memory Impairment Induced By Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Abstract

Recent epidemiological and experimental studies also showed that latent toxoplasmosis can lead to a number of neurological and behavioral disorders such as learning and memory impairments. Recent studies showed that the essential oil and methanolic extract of the Zataria multiflora revealed a significant anticholinesterase activity on in vitro ().Here, we evaluated the effect of Z. multiflora essential oil to ameliorate learning and memory impairments induced by T. gondii infection in BALB/c mice. The animal model of Toxoplasma infection was established by the intraperitoneal inoculation of 20-25 tissue cysts from Tehran strain of T. gondii. Morris water maze (MWM) task was used to assay spatial learning and short term spatial memory in all groups. The findings revealed that in this study demonstrated that latent toxoplasmosis impaired spatial leaning and short term spatial memory of the infected BALB/c mice, while ZME, due having AChE inhibitor activity, improved impairments induced by Toxoplasma infection. The obtained findings demonstrated ZME as an AChE inhibitor to improves learning and memory disorders in mice with latent toxoplasmosis probably via restoring ACh levels in brain. However, additional studies are needed to clarify these mechanisms and also other possible ones.

In vivo evaluation of Berberis vulgaris extract on acute toxoplasmosis in mice

“…At present, there are a restricted number of agents for the treatment of toxoplasmosis and the combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine is the most common (3). However, these drugs may results in some adverse effects, including osteoporosis, sepsis and also teratogenic effects particularly in persons with immunocompromised patients (2,3). So far, efforts to decrease the toxicity of these compounds have been failed, that reinforces the requirement for novel anti-Toxoplasma drugs.…”

“…Toxoplasma gondii is a universal prevalent protozoan parasite which infected all the warm-blooded animals such as humans (1). Human, usually, can be infected via three chief ways of transmission: consumption of tissue cysts in infected meat, consumption of food or water contaminated with oocysts and congenitally (2,3). Toxoplasmosis in immunecompetent persons is seldom symptomatic.…”

Catastrophic consequences: can the feline parasite Toxoplasma gondii prompt the purrfect neuroinflammatory storm following traumatic brain injury?

“…For example, it has been demonstrated that female BALB/c mice infected with the ME49 strain of T. gondii, but not the Prugniaud strain, exhibit impaired spatial working memory at 2 months post-infection [205]. Overall though, the limited literature points toward spatial learning, working memory, and short-term memory being impaired in murine models due to T. gondii infection [203][204][205]208].…”

“…Memory and learning changes have received little attention in the literature compared to other behavioral modalities, and the murine studies that have been conducted report inconsistent results [ 202 , 203 ]. These inconsistencies may be attributed to differences in parasite strain, cyst burden, behavioral paradigm, rodent species, sex, and post-infection time of testing [ 204 – 207 ].…”

“…Overall though, the limited literature points toward spatial learning, working memory, and short-term memory being impaired in murine models due to T . gondii infection [ 203 – 205 , 208 ].…”