ABSTRACT
Aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-amnesic effects of Crataeva nurvala stem bark in scopolamine induced amnesia in rats. The standardized aqueous extract of Crataeva nurvala (AECN) was freshly dissolved in distilled water and administered orally to rats at the dose of 500 mg/kg for evaluation of its effects against scopolamine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) induced retrograde and anterograde amnesia. The effects of the extract on escape latency during the acquisition trial (Days 1-4) and the time spent in target quadrant (TSTQ) during the retrieval trial (Day 5) were determined using the Morris water maze test. In order to indicate the probable mechanism of C. nurvala, its effects on acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and TBARS levels in the brain were determined. In scopolamine induced retrograde amnesia treatment with AECN showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in TSTQ and reduction (p<0.001) in levels of both AchE and TBARS in brain. In the anterograde amnesia model AECN significantly (p<0.001) reduced the escape latency and increased (p<0.01) the TSTQ. The extract also lowered the levels of AchE (p<0.01) and TBARS (p<0.001) in the brain of scopolamine induced anterograde amnesic rats.The study proved that AECN possesses positive effects on memory and learning, which may be due to decrease in AchE levels and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in the brain.
ABSTRACT
Activit, a herbomineral formulation, containing extracts derived from Mucuna pruriens, Withania somnifera, Argyreia speciosa, Centella asiatica, Tribulus terrestris, Asparagus racemosus, Piper longum, Anacyclus pyrethrum, Nux vomica, Tinospora cordifolia and Shring bhasma, was studied for its protective effect against gastric lesions induced by ethanol and pylorus-ligation. The formulation was tested at the doses of 125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight (p.o.) in rats for its effect on various gastric and antioxidant parameters. The reduction in ulcer index in both the models; along with the reduction in volume and total acidity, and an increase in the pH of gastric fluid in pylorus-ligated rats proved the anti-ulcer activity of Activit. The increase in the levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH)] along with membrane bound enzymes (Ca2+ATPase, Mg2+ATPase and Na+K+ATPase) and a decrease in lipid peroxidation (MDA) in both the ulcer models by Activit demonstrated its antioxidant effect. Thus it can be concluded that Activit possesses anti-ulcer activity, which can be attributed to its antioxidant mechanism of action.