Effect of <i style="">Convolvulus pluricaulis </i>Choisy<i style="">.</i> and <i style="">Asparagus racemosus </i>Willd on learning and memory in young and old mice: A comparative evaluation

Abstract

A dose dependent enhancement of memory was observed with <i style="">A. racemosus</i> and <i style="">C. pluricaulis</i> treatment as compared to control group when tested on second day.<i style=""> A. racemosus </i>and <i style="">C. pluricaulis </i>at the dose of 200 mg/kg, po showed significantly higher percent retentions, than piracetam. Multiple treatment with <i style="">A. racemosus</i> and <i style="">C. pluricaulis</i> for three days also demonstrated significant dose dependent increase in percent retentions as compared to control group. The effect was more prominent with <i style="">C. pluricaulis </i>as compared with piracetam and <i style="">A. racemosus</i>. A significantly lower percent retention in aged mice was observed as compared to young mice. Aged mice (18-20 months) showed higher transfer latency (TL) values on first and second day (after 24 h) as compared to young mice, indicating impairment in learning and memory. Pretreatment with <i style="">A. racemosus </i>and<i style=""> C. pluricaulis</i> for 7 days enhanced memory in aged mice, as significant increase in percent retention was observed. Significantly higher retention was observed with <i style="">C. pluricaulis </i>(200 mg/kg; po) as compared with piracetam (10 mg/kg/; po). Post-trial administration of <i style="">C.pluricaulis</i> and <i>A. racemosus</i> extract demonstrated significant decrease in latency time during retention trials. Hippocampal regions associated with the learning and memory functions showed dose dependent increase in AChE activity in CA 1 with <i style="">A. reacemosus</i> and CA3 area with <i style="">C. pluracaulis</i> treatment. The underlying mechanism of these actions of <i><span style="color: rgb(35, 31, 32);">A. racemosus </span></i>and <i style="">C. pluricaulis</i> may be attributed to their antioxidant, neuroprotective and cholinergic properties.