title: Learning and memory-enhancing effect of Bacopa monniera in neonatal rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the learning and memory-enhancing effect of Bacopa monniera in neonatal rats.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Learning is an acquisition and storage of information as a consequence of experience. Memory is a relatively permanent storage form of the learned information. In the process of 'learning', activation of neurons occurs in specific areas or specific memory systems of the brain concerned with the processing of the specific modality of sensory information. Rasayana plants are said to prevent ageing, re-establish youth, strengthen life, brain power and prevent diseases. Bacopa monniera (BM) is shown to be very useful in improving learning and memory.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study neonatal rat pups (10 days old) were given different doses of BM extract orally for different periods of time. These rats were then subjected to spatial learning (T- Maze) and passive avoidance tests along with the age matched normal and gum acacia control rats. The data were compared with those of control rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed improvement in spatial learning performance and enhanced memory retention in neonatal rats treated with extract of BM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that treatment with BM extract during growth spurt period of neonatal rats enhances learning and memory (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 45). Full Text in free PDF www.bmj.sk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India. ramana.anat@gmail.com
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Vollala
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Upadhya
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nayak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D034681:Bacopa; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts