Bacopa monniera exerts antiamnesic effect on diazepam-induced anterograde amnesia in mice.
BACKGROUND
As Benzodiazepines are known to produce amnesia by involvement of the GABAergic system, we examined Bacopa monniera, an herb known for memory enhancement for reversal of memory deficits caused by diazepam.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to study the effect of standardized extract of B. monniera on diazepam-induced amnesia in mice using Morris water maze.


METHODS
We used the rota rod test as a screening measure for muscle incoordination followed by the Morris water maze scale to evaluate the effect of B. monniera on amnesia. The index of acquisition and retrieval was recorded with varying doses of Bacopa.


RESULTS
The results revealed antiamnesic effects of B. monniera (120 mg kg(-1) oral) on diazepam (1.75 mg kg(-1) intraperitoneal)-induced amnesia. The degree of reversal by Bacopa was significant as it progressively reduced escape latency time when mice treated with diazepam were subjected to acquisition trials.


CONCLUSIONS
The antiamnesic effects of Bacopa suggest likely a gamma-aminobutyric acid-benzodiazepine pathway possibly affecting long-term potentiation.
Prabhakar
Sudesh
S
Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
Saraf
Manish Kumar
MK
Pandhi
Promila
P
Anand
Akshay
A
D020324:Amnesia, Anterograde / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D034681:Bacopa / Q000737:chemistry*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D003975:Diazepam