Evaluation of Nootropic Potential of Leucaena leucocephala on Wister Rats

Abstract

Introduction: Leucaena leucocephala is a commonly used plant in the Ayurveda system of medicine to alleviate several ailments. Different parts of Leucaena leucocephala are used for the treatment of ailments such as diabetes, ascariasis, intestinal parasitism and trichinosis. It is also used as an emmenagogue, emollient and as nutritious forage for cattle. Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the plant extract's effect on memory and learning using in-vivo models and ex-vivo models. Methods: The plant extract was prepared by using the Soxhlet extraction procedure. The effect of the extract on nootropic activity was assessed against scopolamine-induced amnesia using different exteroceptive models such as Elevated plus maze, Y maze and Hebb William's maze. Acetylcholinesterase activity of the rat brain homogenate was estimated using Ellman's method. The activity of the extract was compared with the standard drug piracetam. Results: On pre-treatment with ethanolic extract of L. leucocephala, in-vivo studies showed significantly improved spatial learning and memory against scopolamine-induced amnesia in Wistar rat models in a dose-dependent manner. Ex-vivo studies of rat whole brain homogenate showed a significant decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity in extract-treated animals. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of the leaves of L. leucocephala showed significant nootropic potential against animals induced by amnesia using scopolamine.