Promoting effects of beta-carotene from Dunaliella Salina on learning and memory in rats and mice / 中国海洋药物

ABSTRACT

The effects of ?-carotene from Dunaliella salina(?-C) at three doses(12.5,25 and 50 mg?kg~(-1),ip) on learning and memory in rats and mice were studied by using step-down test and Y-maze test.In step-down tests,?-C at all three tested doses had significant effects on normal mice,and could remarkably antagonize the memory impairment induced by scopolamine and 20 % alcohol,but could not antagonize the impairment induced by sodium nitrite.As the same result,?-C at three tested doses administration had significant effects on rats in Y-maze tests.These results suggested that ?-C as an antioxidant could improve the ability of learning and memory in rats and mice.