EFFECT OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF CYNODON DACTYLON (DOOB GRASS) ON NORMAL AND IMPAIRED MEMORY IN MICE

Abstract

Objective: Memory impairment in any age affects the quality of life, though this problem is common in old age. The present study was carried out to study the effect of aqueous extract of Cynodon dactylon (AECD) on normal and impaired memory in mice. Methods: The gum acacia suspension of AECD was administered by gavage at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg for 30 days to evaluate memory-enhancing effect on normal and scopolamine-induced impaired memory in albino mice. Escape latency (EL) in Morris water maze (MWM) and transfer latency (TL) in elevated plus maze were recorded. Mice were given four trial sessions per day to locate the platform for 5 days in MWM model. Scopolamine 1 mg/kg was injected i.p. to produce memory impairment in mice. Results: AECD at the dose of 200 mg/kg (p>0.05) and 400 mg/kg (p<0.05) showed reduction of EL and TL as compared to control group in normal mice. AECD 200 mg/kg (p>0.05) and 400 mg/kg (p<0.05) showed reduction of EL and TL as compared to negative control group in impaired memory mice. AECD 400 mg/kg was comparable to that of piracetam at the dose of 200 mg/kg in normal and scopolamine-treated mice. However, AECD showed better memory-enhancing effect in scopolamine-induced impaired memory model than in normal memory. Conclusion: The study revealed that the chronic administration of AECD exhibited significant memory-enhancing activity against both normal and scopolamine-treated impaired memory mice groups.