Ameliorative Effects of the Lyophilized Aqueous Seed Extract of Buchholzia coriacea on Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment in Sprague-Dawley Rats

This study investigated the protective effects of lyophilized aqueous seed extract of Buchholzia coriacea (B. coriacea) in enhancing memory and neuroprotection in scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment using Morris water maze and Y maze. Thirty-five adult male Sprague Dawley were divided into five groups (n=7) according to extract/drug administered. 14 days administration of two different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) of lyophilized extract of B. coriacea seeds, donepezil (5 mg/kg) concomitantly with scopolamine (1 mg/kg i.p) was carried out. Assessment of Morris water and Y- maze tests, oxidative stress markers and histology demonstration (H and E stain) were carried out during and after administration to evaluate the memory enhancing activity of the lyophilized extract of B. coriacea seeds on scopolamine-induced memory impairment. The two doses of lyophilized extract of B. coriacea seeds, and especially the 200 mg/kg significantly decreased escape latency and increased number of crossing for Morris water maze, while spontaneous alternation was also increased in the Y maze compared to scopolamine only treated group. The extract increased the activity of superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and catalase while decreasing malondialdehyde. The extract mitigated the histological evidence of neurodegeneration observed induced by the use of scopolamine. In conclusion, lyophilized aqueous seed extract of B. coriacea poses to be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in addition to its already established medicinal properties.