Effect of Afghan Senjed (Elaeagnus Angustifolia L.) Leaves Aqueous Extract on Memory of Male Rats

Abstract

This study is aimed to evaluate the effect of Elaeagnus Angustifolia leaves extract (EALE) on the memory of male rats. Rats were divided into 7 groups: 4 groups in the first stage (Control, EALE 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) to determine the effective-dose of EALE on memory; and 3 groups in the second stage (Normal, Scopolamine and EALE effective-dose) to evaluate the effect of EALE on scopolamine-induced memory impairment. Rats received EALE by i.p. administration for 14 days and the memory function of all groups was evaluated by the Y-maze test on days 8 and 15. Only scopolamine and effective dose of EALE groups were received scopolamine 30 min before Y-maze test. The total cholesterol and triglyceride levels of stage 2 rats were also measured. On day 8, the percentage of spontaneous alternation (%SA) was significantly increased in EALE 400 mg/kg group, as compared with the control group. On day 15, there was a significant difference in %SA only between EALE 100 mg/kg group and the control group. The %SA was significantly increased in the EALE effective-dose group only on day 15, as compared with scopolamine group (P<0.05). The effective-dose of EALE was also significantly decreased the total cholesterol (P<0.01) and triglyceride (P<0.001) levels in comparison with scopolamine group. In conclusion, a high dose of EALE only in a short-term administration period and its low dose in a long-term administration period had memory-enhancing effects. The low dose of EALE as an effective-dose of EALE could reverse the scopolamine-induced memory impairment.