title: Combretum mucronatum and Capparis thonningii prevent scopolamine-induced memory deficit in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Roots of Combretum mucronatum Schumach. & Thonn. (Combretaceae) and Capparis thonningii Schum. (Capparaceae) are used in southwest Nigeria in the treatment of inflammatory disorders and mental illness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the antidementic effect of the methanol root extracts of C. mucronatum and C. thonningii on scopolamine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) induced memory impairment in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of C. mucronatum and C. thonningii (50-200 mg/kg) administered orally for 3 days on memory impairments induced in mice by scopolamine was assessed in the passive avoidance and Morris water maze test and compared with that of tacrine (5 mg/kg, i.p.). The activities of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and antioxidant enzymes were estimated in the brain after the completion of behavioral studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C. mucronatum and C. thonningii root extracts (50-200 mg/kg) reversed scopolamine-induced memory deficit with significant (p < 0.05) increase in transfer latency in passive avoidance test. Similarly, the extracts (200 mg/kg) ameliorated memory deficit as a result of significant (p < 0.001) decrease in escape latency and path length in Morris water maze test. The increased AChE activity induced by scopolamine was significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited by C. mucronatum and C. thonningii (100 and 200 mg/kg) treatment which was similar to the effect of tacrine. Both extracts significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated scopolamine-induced increase in oxidative stress parameters as well as restoration of glutathione activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C. mucronatum and C. thonningii extracts possess significant anticholinesterase, antioxidant and antidementic properties, which may be useful in the management of Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-araba, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ismail Ogunbayode
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Ishola
authors.forename: Olufunmilayo Olaide
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Adeyemi
authors.forename: Esther Oluwatoyin
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Agbaje
authors.forename: Santoshkumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tota
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shukla
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D031484:Capparis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D029765:Combretum / Q000737:chemistry*; D003704:Dementia / Q000517:prevention & control; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D009549:Nigeria; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000633:toxicity; D013619:Tacrine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013619:Tacrine; D012601:Scopolamine