Nootropic Effect of Berberine in Colchicines Induced Experimental Alzheimer's Disease Model: Effect on Cholinergic Neurotransmission

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Colchicine administration by ICV is well known model which shows sporadic dementia of the Alzheimer type in humans, causing cognitive impairment and oxidative damage. Berberine (BBR) is a naturally occurring flavonoid. Literature suggests multiple activities berberine. Hence it may act as a promising agent to combat AD. The present study has been designed to investigate the protective effects of berberine against the colchicine-induced cognitive impairment by modulating cholinergic neurotransmission in mice. Methods: Colchicine (15 microg/5 microL), administered intracerebroventricularly, resulted in poor memory retention in both the Morris water maze task paradigms. Mice received chronic treatment of BBR at a sub effective and effective dose of (5 and 40 mg/kg per day, PO respectively) along with nicotine and mechamylamine respectively for a period of 25 days beginning 4 days prior to colchicine administration. For cholinergic system modulation study Nicotine and Mecamylamine was given I.C.V as agonist and antagonist respectively. Results: In present investigation, BBR in sub effective dose do not show any ant amnesic activity but when it is given along with Nicotine it significantly decreases the latency time on as compared to BBR alone in MWM task. Similarly is the case with mecamylamine and BBR at effective. Conclusions: Our results suggest that BBR provides ant amnesic effects and that may be through modulation of nicotinergic receptors in colchicine’s induced memory impairment model and further investigation of the BBR for therapeutic use in treating AD is warranted. Keywords: AD, Berberine, Nicotine, Colchicine, Morris Water Maze