The antioxidant activity of leaf extract in improving scopolamine-induced spatial memory disorders in rats.

OBJECTIVE

Medicinal plants have attracted global attention due to their safety as well as their considerable antioxidant content that helps to prevent or ameliorate various disorders including memory impairments. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of beet root () leaf extract on scopolamine-induced spatial memory impairments in male Wistar rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): Control (C), scopolamine 1 mg/kg/day (S), scopolamine+50 mg/kg leaf extract (S+B 50), scopolamine+100 mg/kg leaf extract (S+B 100) and scopolamine+200 mg/kg leaf extract (S+B 200). Morris water maze task was used to assess spatial memory. Serum antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were also measured.

RESULTS

Group S spent significantly less time in the target quadrant compared to the control group, and the administration of leaf extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly increased this time (p<0.05). Scopolamine decreased serum antioxidant capacity and increased serum MDA level yet insignificantly. extract (200 mg/kg) significantly increased the antioxidant capacity and decreased serum MDA level in scopolamine-treated rats (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that leaf extract could ameliorate the memory impairments and exhibited protective effects against scopolamine-induced oxidation. Further investigation is needed to isolate specific antioxidant compounds from leaf extract with protective effect against brain and memory impairments.