title: Protective effect of Cnestis ferruginea and its active constituent on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice: a behavioral and biochemical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae) (CF) is used in traditional African medicine in the management of CNS disorders. The degeneration and dysfunction of cholinergic neurons is closely associated with the cognitive deficits of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and oxidative stress has been implicated in its pathogenesis. However, the influence of C. ferruginea on the cholinergic system and oxidative stress parameters has not been explored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigates the effect of methanol root extract of C. ferruginea and its active constituent amentoflavone (CF-2) on memory, oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in scopolamine-induced amnesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were orally treated with CF (25-200 mg/kg), CF-2 (6.25-25 mg/kg) for three days and memory impairment was induced by intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine (3 mg/kg). Memory function was evaluated by passive avoidance and Morris water maze tests. Biochemical parameters of oxidative stress and cholinergic function were estimated in brain after the completion of behavioral studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scopolamine caused memory impairment along with increased AChE activity and oxidative stress in mice brain. Oral administration of CF and CF-2 significantly prevented scopolamine-induced memory impairment, inhibited AChE and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity in the brain following scopolamine injection as compared to vehicle administration in scopolamine (i.p.)-treated mice that were comparable to the effect of tacrine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrated that C. ferruginea and its constituent have significant protective effect against scopolamine-induced memory deficits in mice that can be attributed to their antioxidant and antiAChE activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ismail O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Ishola
authors.forename: Santoshkumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tota
authors.forename: Olufunmilayo O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Adeyemi
authors.forename: Esther O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Agbaje
authors.forename: Tadigulopulla
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Narender
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shukla
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D044946:Biflavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D031961:Connaraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000633:toxicity; D013619:Tacrine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D044946:Biflavonoids; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013619:Tacrine; C011164:amentoflavone; D012601:Scopolamine; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase