Effects of matricaria chamomilla extract on motor coordination impairment induced in rat and determination antioxidant properties of chamomile

Objective To evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of chamomile on balance and motor learning in rats receiving scopolamine and intact rats. Methods Fourty-two rats were divided into 6 groups (n = 7). Control group received distilled water. Rats in Group 2 were given 1 mg/kg scopolamine. Groups 3 and 4 received chamomile extract 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, respectively, and scopolamine simultaneously for 20 days. Intact groups (Groups 5 and 6) only received chamomile extract 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, respectively. Motor coordination of rats was assessed with rotarod apparatus. Results According to the obtained results, compared with the control group, scopolamine significantly decreased time spent on rotarod performance (P < 0.001). Compared with scopolamine group, the strength and staying on rotarod apparatus in Group 3 significantly increased (P < 0.05). The results of this research showed that intact groups that received only chamomile extract at doses of 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg significantly increased time spent on rotarod, compared with scopolamine group (P < 0.001). Conclusions The results of this study indicated the high antioxidant property and protective effect of chamomile extract on motor coordination in the groups that received scopolamine

Evaluating the effect of foeniculum vulgar on scopolamin-induced memory impairment in Male Mice

Background: Estrogen is a steroid that regardless of its obvious effects on females’ reproductive functions shows beneficial effects on cognition. Foeniculum vulgar (fennel) has phytoestrogen compounds that might be beneficial in memory performance. This research was performed to understand if this plant can improve memory. Methods: To evaluate memory, novel object recognition task was used in male Balb-c mice, which comprised of three sections: habituation, learning trial (T1) and the test trial (T2). In this method, the difference in the exploration time between a familial (F) and a novel (N) object is taken as an index of memory performance [recognition index (RI) = (N – F)/(N + F) × 100]. Findings: Memory was harmed using 0.5 mg/kg subcutaneous scopolamine [RI (%) = -16.0 ± 3.0]. 50 mg/kg intraperitoneal fennel considerably prevented memory impairment of scopolamine [RI (%) = 35.0 ± 7.1] and this was parallel with the memory index in normal animals [RI (%) = 50.0 ± 5.8]. In addition, 0.2 mg/kg intraperitoneal 17-β estradiol showed similar results as fennel on memory protection [RI (%) = 36.0 ± 6.6]. However, the beneficial effects of fennel were impaired by prior intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg tamoxifen [RI (%) = -29.0 ± 7.1]. Conclusion: The beneficial effect of fennel on memory is achieved by estrogenic receptors present in the brain; by stimulating these receptors, they could cause an increase in acetylcholine release. Therefore, it can competitively prevent the antagonizing effect of scopolamine on cholinergic receptors. © 2015, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved. Evaluating the effect of foeniculum vulgar on scopolamin-induced memory impairment in Male Mice. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282273930_Evaluating_the_effect_of_foeniculum_vulgar_on_scopolamin-induced_memory_impairment_in_Male_Mice [accessed Jul 29, 2017]

Evaluating the analgesic effect of Cucurbita maxima Duch hydro-alcoholic extract in rats

Background and aims: Cucurbita maxima Duch (CMD) is used as sedative for tooth and ear pain, but its analgesic effect has not been research in experimental studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of CMD was studied using formalin model in rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 60 Rats were randomly divided into 6 equal groups. Control group was injected distilled water and three experimental groups were injected CMD extracts (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg). Group 5 received ibuprofen and group 6 received naloxone with the most effective dose of the extract. Extract or drugs were injected 15 minutes before formalin injection. The responses of animals to pain were recorded for 30 min. after the formalin injection. Responses of first 0-5 min. were considered as acute pain and responses of 15-30 min. as chronic pain. Results: CRM extracts reduced acute pain in doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg (P<0.001). In addition, the extract decreased chronic pain in all used concentrations compared to the control group (P<0.001). Naloxone inhibited analgesic effect of the extract (P<0.05). Conclusion: CRM extracts reduce acute and chronic pains in formalin test through opioid system and it might be used as an analgesic drug

Anti-amnesic activity of Citrus aurantium flowers extract against scopolamine-induced memory impairments in rats

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder that mostly affects the elderly population. Learning and memory impairment as the most characteristic manifestation of dementia could be induced chemically by scopolamine, a cholinergic antagonist. Cholinergic neurotransmission mediated brain oxidative stress. Citrus aurantium (CA) has traditionally been used for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety and epilepsy. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Citrus aurantium on scopolamine-induced learning and memory deficit in rats. Forty-two Wistar rats were divided into six equal groups. (1) Control (received saline), (2) SCOP (scopolamine at a dose of 1 mg/kg for 15 days), (3) and (4) SCOP + CA (scopolamine and CA extract at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg per day for 15 days), (5) and (6) intact groups (CA extract at 300 and 600 mg/kg per day for 15 days, respectively). Administration of CA flower extract significantly restored memory and learning impairments induced by scopolamine in the passive avoidance test and also reduced escape latency during trial sessions in the Morris water maze test. Citrus aurantium flower extract significantly decreased the serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Citrus aurantium flower extract has repairing effects on memory and behavioral disorders produced by scopolamine and may have beneficial effects in the treatment of AD

Determining the Antioxidant Properties of Chamomile and Investigating the ‎Effects of Chamomile Ethanol Extract on Motor Coordination Disorders in Rats ‎

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer&rsquo;s, a progressive disorder causing the memory and other crucial functions of the brain to deteriorate, is mainly responsible for Dementia (brain deterioration). Most of the available drugs exert little influence on this brain disorder. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and its ethanol extract on the balance and motor learning of healthy rats and rats receiving Scopolamine. METHODS: In this experimental study, 42 male Wister rats were divided into 6 groups of 7. They received one milligram of Scopolamine per kilogram of their body weight. The control group received distilled water. Simultaneously, the Amnesiac groups received 200 to 500 milligrams of Chamomile extract in addition to Scopolamine for 20 days. The healthy group only received the extract. The rats&rsquo; motor balance was measured using the Rotarod device. FINDINGS: In comparison with the control group, Scopolamine significantly reduced the time of resistance and staying on the Rotarod rolling stock (p=0/0005). The resistance time and staying time on the Rotarod rolling stock in the control group and the Scopolamine group were 169/51 and 46/33 seconds, respectively. The time of resistance and staying in the Scopolamine group receiving 200 milligrams of the Chamomile extract was 119/5 seconds which shows a significant increase compared to the Scopolamine-only group (p=0/044). Compared to the Scopolamine group receiving the same dose, 200 to 500 milligrams of the extract in healthy rats noticeably increased the time of resistance and staying on the rolling stock (168/3 and 263 seconds, respectively) (p=0/000, p=0/000). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that with its antioxidant properties, Chamomile extract could probably enhance motor balance in Scopolamine receiving rats

Effect of Cyperus rotundus tubers ethanolic extract on learning and memory in animal model of Alzheimer

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disorder that leads to progressive cognitive decline. The memory dysfunction of AD has been associated with a cortical cholinergic deficiency and loss of cholinergic neurons of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM). This study investigated the effect of Cyperus rotundus tubers ethanolic extract on learning and memory in the rat model of Alzheimer's and intact rats. In this experimental study, 49 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into seven groups. Wistar rats received bilateral electric lesions of the NBM. The NBM-lesioned rats received Cyperus rotundus tubers ethanolic extract (100 and 200 mg/kg; ip) for 15 days while the control and sham groups received distilled water. Intact rats received extract without any surgery. Passive avoidance learning and memory performance was assessed using passive avoidance paradigm, and Morris water maze test used for spatial learning and memory evaluation. In shuttle box test, the initial latency significantly decreased in Alzh+ CRT (NBM-lesioned rats that received extract) groups. Step through latency significantly increased in Alzh+ CRT groups. In Morris water maze task, in the probe trial, Alzh+ CRT groups demonstrated a significant preference for the quadrant in which the platform was located on the preceding day. The decrease in the escape latency improved significantly in Alzh+ CRT groups when compared with Alzh (NBM-lesioned rats) group. The results suggest that Cyperus rotundus tubers ethanolic extract has some repairing effects on the memory and behavioral disorders produced by lesioning of the NBM in rats. © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS

Evaluation of anti-depression, antioxidant and motor coordination effects of Cucurbita Maxima Duch hydro-alcoholic extract in rats

Abstract Objectives: In traditional medicine, Cucurbita maxima Duch is known as a sedating plant. In Islamic medicine, this plant is widely used for the treatment of depression. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-depression, antioxidant and motor coordination effects of this medicinal herb. Materials and Methods: In this study, hydroalcoholic extract of Cucurbita maxima Duch was prepared using maceration methods, and animals were divided into four groups. Control subjects received normal saline, and experimental subjects received the

Matricaria chamomilla extract demonstrates antioxidant properties against elevated rat brain oxidative status induced by amnestic dose of scopolamine

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is clinically characterized by progressive loss of cognitive abilities and usually is accompany with elevated oxidative stress. Chamomile is a plant with antioxidant activity with is currently used in Iranian folk medicine as sedative, analgesic, antipyretic and antispasmodic agent. The present study was investigated the effect of Matricaria chamomilla (MC) on learning and memory functions in scopolamine-induced memory deficit in rats. Memory enhancing activity in scopolamine-inducedamnesic rats was investigated by assessing the Morris water maze and passive avoidance paradigm. Forty-two male Wistar rats were divided into 6 equal groups as bellow: 1 - control (received water), 2 - SCOP (received scopolamine 1 mg/kg for 15 days), 3 and 4 - SCOP + MC (received scopolamine and MC extract 200 and 500 mg/kg b.w. per day for 15 days), 5 and 6 - intact groups (received MC extract 200 and 500 mg/kg b.w. per day for 15 days). M. Chamomilla ethanolic extract produced significant memory enhancing activity when evaluated by Morris water maze and passive avoidance paradigm models. Our results suggest that M. chamomilla ethanolic extract has repairing effects on memory deficit and might be beneficial in patients with Alzheimer's disease and behavioral disorders. The memory enhancing activity of the extract may be attributed to the free radical scavenging activity, which would have been afforded by the active constituents present in the extract. © 2014 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS

The effect of pretreatment with different doses of Lavandula officinalis ethanolic extract on memory, learning and nociception

This study investigated the effects of pretreatment with different doses of Lavandula officinalis ethanolic extract on memory, learning and nociception in male Wistar rats. In this experimental study, 32 male Wistar rats were studied in 4 groups of 8 each. The control group received distilled water while three treatment groups received oral Lavender extract. Then 2 h after the last dose Morris water maze, shuttle box and rotarod test were performed. To study the analgesic activity the hot plate was used. The rats received orally Lavender extract one hour prior to beginning of the experiment for analgesic activity. The treatment groups with doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the Lavender extract improved learning and memory compared with the control group in final trails in Morris water maze test. Lavender extract increased the latency to fall off for each rat in 100 and 200 mg/kg Lavender groups in rotarod test. Lavender extract with 400 mg/kg dose significantly increased latency to respond to heat stimulus 5 and 15 minutes after beginning of experiment. Although further studies are needed, the results indicate that lavender extract improves memory and learning, and might be beneficial in patients with these disorders, particularly the patients suffering pain. © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS