Zataria multiflora Boiss. extract improves spatial memory and learning capacity in scopolamine-induced amnesic rats

• Main Authors: Vahid Sheibani (Author), Ali Mandegary (Author), Elham Vazifekhahan (Author), Zahra Kasbzade (Author), Amir Asadi (Author), Fariba Sharififar (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, 2019-10-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2228-7930; 2228-7949; 10.22038/ajp.2019.13540
• Keywords: Anticholinesterase; Cognitive disorder; Morris Water Maze; Passive avoidance test; Zataria multiflora; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, Vol 9, Iss 6, Pp 587-596 (2019)

<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Objective: </strong><em>Zataria multiflora</em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> (<em>Zm</em></span><span style="font-size: medium;">) has been proposed for memory enhancing in Persian traditional medicine; but to now, no study has been carried out in this field yet. The aim of this research was to study the plant effect on spatial memory in scopolamine-induced amnesia and investigate </span><em><span style="font-size: medium;">in vivo</span></em><span style="font-size: medium;"> anticholinesterase effect of </span><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Zm</span></em><span style="font-size: medium;">. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Material and Methods: </span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Aerial parts of the plant were extracted with methanol and standardized on the basis of rutin content. Male rats received three doses of <em>Zm</em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (ip) for 7 days) and 30 min after the latest dose, scopolamine (1 mg/kg) was administered to animals. Learning capacity and spatial memory were studied using morris water maze (MWM) and passive avoidance test (PAT) methods. Anticholinesterase activity was studied using Ellman</span><span style="font-size: medium;">'s method. Physostigmine (0.3 mg/kg) and piracetam (200 mg/kg) were used as positive controls. </span><br /> <span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Results:</strong> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">All doses of <em>Zm</em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> extract significantly decreased the distance and time spent to find the platform in MWM and increased the time latency in PAT test. In both MWM and PAT tests, the highest effect of </span><em><span style="font-size: medium;">Zm</span></em><span style="font-size: medium;"> was observed at 200 mg/kg which was in accordance with AChE inhibitory effect of the plant</span><span style="font-size: medium;">. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Conclusion: </span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Our findings indicate that <em>Zm </em></span><span style="font-size: medium;">has anti-amnesic effect and might improve memory deficit through anticholinesterase activity.</span>