Abstract

EVALUATION OF IN VIVO ANTI-OXIDANT ACTIVITY OF MENTHA ARVENSIS LINN IN RAT BRAIN HOMOGENATES

Nazima Ameen and Sabeeha Shafi*

Abstract

Mentha arvensis Linn commonly called as Pudina is used in various recipes in India. It has a number of pharmacological actions like sedative-hypnotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcerogenic, antifungal, anti-helminthic and hepatoprotective. But very little literature is known regarding its memory enhancing activity. In the present study, the main aim was to evaluate the in vivo anti-oxidant activity of this plant in rat brain homogenates. Memory enhancing activity is directly related to Alzheimers disease. In this the aerial parts of the plant were taken. Two extracts of this plant were taken. The phytochemical constituents of Mentha arvensis showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, terpenes and flavonoids. The in vivo mehods also showed positive memory enhancing activity thereby implicating that the plant can be used in curing Alzheimers disease.

Keywords: Mentha arvensis, herb, in vivo study, phytochemical constituents.