TY - JOUR
T1 - Reversal of scopolamine-induced deficits in navigational memory performance by the seed oil of Celastrus paniculatus
AU - Gattu, Mahanandeeshwar
AU - Boss, Kenneth L.
AU - Terry, Alvin V.
AU - Buccafusco, Jerry J.
N1 - Funding Information:
We extend our thanks to BAN Pharmacy, Rajkot, India for supplying the CP oil. The authors appreciate the assistance of Ms. Patricia Ryan for her excellent secretarial support in preparation of this manuscript. This study was supported by a grant from the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, DAMD17-95-1-5036 and the Office of Research and Development, Medical Research Department of Veterans Affairs. The content of the information of this study does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the government, and no official endorsement should be inferred.
PY - 1997/8
Y1 - 1997/8
N2 - Celastrus paniculatus (CP), a medicinal plant from India has been reputed to be useful as a pharmaceutical aid for learning and memory. We investigated the effects of the seed oil of CP on the 6 day performance of young adult rats in a navigational memory task - the Morris water maze. Chronic oral (gavage) daily treatment with CP, (50, 200, or 400 mg/kg) for 14 days completely reversed the scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg)-induced task performance deficit. On the other hand, acute treatment (single injection prior to scopolamine treatment) with CP (200 mg/kg) did not significantly reverse the scopolamine-induced impairment in maze performance. Alone, CP produced a slight, but significant improvement in maze performance on the first day of testing. Acute treatment or chronic 14 day treatment with CP resulted in no significant alteration in normal locomotor activity in an open field. Moreover, CP did not alter the scopolamine-induced increases in locomotor activity. Chronic treatment with CP did not alter brain acetylcholinesterase levels and no signs of cholinergic overstimulation were ever noted during or after treatment. Thus, the seed oil of CP, when administered chronically, selectively reversed the impairment in spatial memory produced by acute central muscarinic receptor blockade, supporting the possibility that one or more constituents of the oil may offer cognitive enhancing properties. The neural mechanism underlying the reversal of scopolamine's mnemonic effects by CP is not yet known, but it is not related to an anticholinesterase-like action.
AB - Celastrus paniculatus (CP), a medicinal plant from India has been reputed to be useful as a pharmaceutical aid for learning and memory. We investigated the effects of the seed oil of CP on the 6 day performance of young adult rats in a navigational memory task - the Morris water maze. Chronic oral (gavage) daily treatment with CP, (50, 200, or 400 mg/kg) for 14 days completely reversed the scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg)-induced task performance deficit. On the other hand, acute treatment (single injection prior to scopolamine treatment) with CP (200 mg/kg) did not significantly reverse the scopolamine-induced impairment in maze performance. Alone, CP produced a slight, but significant improvement in maze performance on the first day of testing. Acute treatment or chronic 14 day treatment with CP resulted in no significant alteration in normal locomotor activity in an open field. Moreover, CP did not alter the scopolamine-induced increases in locomotor activity. Chronic treatment with CP did not alter brain acetylcholinesterase levels and no signs of cholinergic overstimulation were ever noted during or after treatment. Thus, the seed oil of CP, when administered chronically, selectively reversed the impairment in spatial memory produced by acute central muscarinic receptor blockade, supporting the possibility that one or more constituents of the oil may offer cognitive enhancing properties. The neural mechanism underlying the reversal of scopolamine's mnemonic effects by CP is not yet known, but it is not related to an anticholinesterase-like action.
KW - Learning memory
KW - Locomotor activity
KW - Medicinal plant
KW - Muscarinic receptors
KW - Scopolamine
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U2 - 10.1016/S0091-3057(96)00391-7
DO - 10.1016/S0091-3057(96)00391-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 9259008
AN - SCOPUS:0030771124
SN - 0091-3057
VL - 57
SP - 793
EP - 799
JO - Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
JF - Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
IS - 4
ER -