Effect of standardized extract of Marsilea minuta on learning and memory performance in rat amnesic models.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

Marsilea minuta Linn (Marsileaceae) is a common Indian hydrophytic plant. Traditionally, the plant has been used as a sedative for the treatment of insomnia and other mental disorders. Background information of this plant has encouraged us to investigate its antiamnesic activity in rat.

OBJECTIVE:

Standardized ethanol extract of M. minuta was investigated for their putative role in learning and memory performance in normal and amnesic rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Ethanol extract of M. minuta (EMM) was standardized for marsiline using HPLC. The effect of standardized extract of M. minuta (1.15% w/w marsiline) was tested in amnesic rat using elevated plus maze (EPM) and passive avoidance (PA) test. Amnesia was induced after scopolamine (1 mg/kg, s.c.) and electroconvulsive shock (150 mA, 0.2 s) treatment. Behavioral studies were further substantiated with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and radioligand muscarinic receptor binding studies in rat brain regions.

RESULTS:

Oral administration of EMM at 200 and 400 mg/kg/day for 3 days significantly reversed the amnesia whereas, no per se effect was observed. In comparison to control, AChE activity in frontal cortex and hippocampus was found to be significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited by EMM. EMM at doses 200 and 400 mg/kg has significantly (P < 0.05) increased (+34 % and +40 % change in affinity, respectively) the binding of 3H-QNB in frontal cortex indicating the up regulation of the muscarinic receptors.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:

These findings suggest that standardized extract of M. minuta have excellent antiamnesic activity, probably mediating through central cholinergic system.

• Authors: Subrat Kumar Bhattamisra, Paras Nath Singh, Sushil Kumar Singh
• Journal: Pharmaceutical biology (Pharm Biol) Vol. 50 Issue 6 Pg. 766-72 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1744-5116 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22471959 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• GPI-Linked Proteins
• Muscarinic Agonists
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Nootropic Agents
• Plant Extracts
• Receptors, Muscarinic
• Acetylcholinesterase
• Ache protein, rat

Topics

• Acetylcholinesterase (metabolism)
• Amnesia (drug therapy, enzymology, metabolism)
• Animals
• Behavior, Animal (drug effects)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Frontal Lobe (drug effects, enzymology, metabolism)
• GPI-Linked Proteins (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Hippocampus (drug effects, enzymology, metabolism)
• Learning (drug effects)
• Male
• Marsileaceae (chemistry)
• Medicine, Ayurvedic
• Memory (drug effects)
• Muscarinic Agonists (therapeutic use)
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (metabolism)
• Neurons (drug effects, enzymology, metabolism)
• Nootropic Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Receptors, Muscarinic (metabolism)