ROLE OF MICHELIA CHAMPACA IN MEMORY ENHANCEMENT AND ACUTE NOISE STRESSED MALE WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Malathi S,Vidyashree ,Ravindran Rajan

doi:10.22159/ijpps.2018v10i2.22605

Abstract

Objective: To identify the memory enhancing role of Michelia champaca in acute noise stressed animals. Methods: Male Wistar albino rats were used in this study. Animals were exposed to noise for 4 h before testing for memory. Thereafter, the plasma corticosterone level and acetylcholinesterase activity were estimated in the discrete regions of the brain, and the memory related behavior were assessed by eight arm radial maze.Results: Our results showed that Michelia champaca enhances the memory activity and decreases the corticosterone concentrations in acute noise stress animals treated with M. champaca. Moreover, it also decreased brain acetylcholinesterase activity when compared with the acute stress group (p<0.05). Furthermore, behavioral tests indicate that working memory, is enhanced by acute stress and decreases the error levels in all the parameters studied in the behavior aspects when compared to control animals.Conclusion: These findings suggest that Michelia champaca enhances the memory in albino rats and might be useful therapeutically for cognitive related dysfunctions. This could be due to the presence of memory boosting compounds and its antistressor and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity, thereby reduces the levels of serum corticosterone and inhibition of cholinesterase enzyme significantly.

Highlights

In response to stress, the brain recruits many neuronal circuits to adapt to the demand, leading to the activation of hypothalamicpituitary-adrenocortical [HPA] axis, and the production of adrenal corticosterone, the major stress hormone [1]
Animals were divided into four groups
The plasma corticosterone level was measured in all the distinct groups

Summary

Introduction

The brain recruits many neuronal circuits to adapt to the demand, leading to the activation of hypothalamicpituitary-adrenocortical [HPA] axis, and the production of adrenal corticosterone, the major stress hormone [1]. Corticosterone exerts its cellular effects by acting on mineralocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid receptors. Stress hormones have both protective and damaging effects on the body [3]. In case of acute stress, they are essential for adaptation and maintenance of homeostasis, while in response to chronic and repeated stress, they can produce wear and tear on the body [4]. Behavioral studies have found that moderate acute stress facilitates classical conditioning and associative learning [5, 6] in contrast to the chronic stress-induced deficits in spatial and contextual memory performance and attentional control [7, 8]

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Discussion

Conclusion