Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING AND MEMORY ENHANCING ACTIVITY OF PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA (DATE) IN RATS

Meera Sumanth*and Mamatha K

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To assess the learning and memory enhancing activity of the ethanolic extract of Phoenix dactylifera(EEPD)fruit in rats using Elevated plus maze (EPM), Hebb-William maze (HWM) and Morris water maze (MWM). Materials and methods: Wistar rats (100-150 gm) of either sex, were divided into five groups (n=6). Group- I(control) animals received vehicle, group-II (scopolamine control) animals received scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg i.p), groups III, IV and V animals received ethanolic extract of Phoenix dactylifera fruit-100 mg/kg p.o, 200 mg/kg p.o, and piracetam (400 mg/kg i.p), respectively for 27 days, followed by scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg i.p) injection on 19th and 27th day. Assessment of transfer latency (TL), time taken to reach reward chamber (TRC) and swim latency (SL), using EPM, HWM, and MWM, respectively, was done on 16th, 17th, 19th and 27th day. Acetylcholine esterase activity, superoxide dismutase, catalase and Glutathione from brain homogenate were estimated. The data was analyzed by one way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test. P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Result: EEPD decreased TL, TRC and SL. EEPD decreased acetylcholine esterase activity and increased SOD, catalase and glutathione levels. Conclusion: Dates (fruit of Phoenix dactylifera) enhanced learning and memory activity.

Keywords: Learning, Memory, EPM, HWM, MWM, Piracetam, Scopolamine.