Effect of Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb. Extract on Scopolamine Induced Cognitive Impairment in Rats

Abstract Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common kind of dementia, is identified by the accumulation of neurotic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. These abnormal structures are formed due to the aggregation of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) in the medial temporal lobe and neocortical tissues of brain. Objective: To evaluate the effect of Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb. Extract on scopolamine induced memory impaired rats. Method: Rats divided into five groups, i.e. Group I to V. Normal saline given to Group I rats. To the group II to V animal’s scopolamine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) administered to make cognitive Impairment. Group II negative control animals not receive any treatment. Standard drug piracetam (400 mg/kg) given to Group III animals. Group IV and V animals treated with A. lakoocha extract at a dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively. The effect of Artocarpus lakoocha extract on scopolamine induced memory impairment was assessed by behavioural models, various memory biomarkers, oxidative stress markers and brain histopathological examination. Behavioural models like morris water maze (MWM), light-dark model (LDM) & elevated plus maze (EPM) were used to assess. In the brain homogenate levels of acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), dopamine, glutathione, lipid peroxidase, catalase and SOD were measured. The histopathological examination of cortex and hippocampus part of brains of all the groups was done. Results: A. lakoocha extract treatment improved spatial retention, reduced transfer latency and step through latency in behaviour models. It reduces acetylcholinesterase enzyme, improves dopamine levels and countered oxidative stress. A. lakoocha extract treatment improves the histology of cortex and hippocampus part of brains. Conclusion: The study found that A. lakoocha extract treatment showed promising effects in enhancing memory in rats with scopolamine-induced amnesia.