Ethnopharmacology relevance: Petiveria alliacea L., commonly known as macura and gully root, is an important medicinal plant used in the Caribbean and Central America to treat ailments associated to the central nervous system, including poor memory.
Aim of the study: To assess the effects of the P. alliacea leaves methanol fraction (PMF) on a scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment mouse model related to acetylcholinesterase activity and oxidative stress.
Material and methods: After PMF administration at doses of 500 or 900 mg/kg, cognitive ability was evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM), Y-maze (YM) and novel object recognition (NOR) tests. The mouse brain tissue was further assessed for acetylcholinesterase activity and antioxidant activity. Levels of oxidative stress were also evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione activity. Acute toxicity was also evaluated.
Results: PMF led to memory improvement in the behavioral tests in mice with scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment. Moreover, PMF inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity and showed antioxidant potential that in turn attenuated cholinergic degradation. Additionally, PMF increased glutathione levels and glutathione reductase activity and reduced MDA levels in the brain. Moreover, no acute toxicity was detected with the use of PMF.
Conclusion: In a mouse model of scopolamine-induced cognitive deficit, PMF exhibited protective effects, decreasing oxidative damage and regulating cholinergic function in the brain bearing significant memory enhancing potency. These data suggest that PMF is a promising candidate for developing therapies for neurodegenerative disorders.
Keywords: Acetylcholinesterase; Dementia; Ethnopharmacology; Memory; Oxidative stress; Toxicity.
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