European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ANTIAMNESIC EFFECT OF PRUNUS CERASUS FRUIT EXTRACT (CHERRY) OF NICOTINE – INDUCED MEMORY AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN WISTAR RATS

*Olorunfemi O. J. and Okpe Ebifetei

ABSTRACT

Antiamnesic effect of Prunus Cerasus fruit extract of nicotine-induced memory and cognitive impairment in wistar rat was studied. 40 wistar rats of similar weight were randomly divided into 8 group as follows; Group 1 control group ( normal saline), Group 2 (treated with nicotine 0.6 mg/kg ) intraperitoneal administration and Group 3 to 5 was treated with P.Cerasus fruits extracts at a dosage of 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600 mg/kg by gavage method and Group 6 to 8 were administered with P.Cerasus + nicotine. The study was investigated within a period of 6 weeks. Results from the study was analyzed with a statistical package using ANOVA (SPSS) and presented in tables and charts with a level of significance at P ≤0.05. Different behavioural tasks, navigational maze task, Barnes maze task, passive avoidance task, Morris water maze task, rotarod task, hand grip task and elevated plus maze task were used to assess the effect of Prunus Cerasus fruit on memory and cognition and other parameters like anxiety and cognitomotor activities of the rats. The results from the study demonstrated a significant difference (p<0.05) in all tasks for spatial learning and memory at 40mg/kg of Prunus Cerasus. There was also a significant difference in retention latency in learning and memory at 96 hours’ and 24 hours’ time interval between the negative control and the P.Cerasus group and the positive control and the P.Cerasus group + positive control. A significant difference was observed in the muscle coordination between the P.Cerasus and the negative control in the rotarod and the hand grip task and no significant difference was observed in elevated plus maze task. In conclusion, At a dosage of 400mg/kg P.Cerasus enhanced memory and cognition and at a dosage of 600mg/kg P.Cerasus ameliorated amnesic effect and also improved cognitomotor functions.

Keywords: Prunus Cerasus, Antiamnesia. Cognition function, cognitive impairment.