EVALUATION OF NOOTROPIC ACTIVITY OF CARICA PAPAYA IN MICE

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily manifesting as a loss of memory, senile dementia, and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangle formation. C. papaya has a very long history of medicinal use in Chinese and Indian herbal traditions. The objective of this study is to evaluate the nootropic activity of Carica papaya by using animal model mice. The dried seeds of papaya fruits were used for the extraction by cold maceration method using ethanol as solvent. Preliminary Phytochemical study was performed. Estimation of anti-oxidant enzymes like super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxide and glutathione reductase were done in extract treated mice. Estimation of acetylcholinestarase levels was also done. The ethyl acetate extract gave positive results for alkaloids, flavanoids, carbohydrates, tannins, glycosides, and absence of proteins, saponins, steroids, terpenes, phenols, gums and mucilage. In the present study, we have found a significant decrease in the level of antioxidant enzymes and the elevated of AChE in mice brain after a single injection of Scopolamine. EECP at 200 mg/ kg and 400 mg/kg had shown the significant reduction in the elevated enzyme level of acetylcholine esterase. The oxidative stress involved by the administration of Scopolamine produced neurotoxicity indicated the decreased levels of super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase. Treatment of EECP shows the protection of these antioxidant enzymes on both 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg dose level respectively due to the rejuvenating property of the extract.