Study of Brāhmī Ghṛta and piracetam in amnesia.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of Brāhmī Ghṛta with piracetam (a reference standard chemical) in amnesia.


METHODS
Brāhmī Ghṛta contained Brāhmī (Bacopa monneri), Vacā (Acorus calamus), Kuṣṭha (Sassurea lappa), Śaṅkhapuṣpī (Convolvulos pluricalis), and Purāṇa Ghṛta, prepared as per snehapāka process. Antiamnesic activity of Brāhmī Ghṛta (400 and 800 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated in scopolamine (1 mg/kg, s.c.) induced amnesia in Charles Foster rats using elevated plus maze, passive avoidance, and active avoidance tests. Piracetam (500 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as standard drug. This effect was compared with standard chemical used in experimental study.


RESULTS
Brāhmī Ghṛta - (in both doses) and piracetam-treated rats significantly reversed the effect of scopolamine in modified elevated plus maze, passive avoidance, and active avoidance tests. But there were no significant differences observed in antiamnesic activity of Brāhmī Ghṛta and standard drug.


CONCLUSIONS
Brāhmī Ghṛta and piracetam produced significant beneficial effect on scopolamine-induced amnesic effect, but no significant difference was observed in between them.
Department of Rasa Shastra, Faculty of Āyurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
Kapil Deo
KD
Yadav
K R C
KR
Reddy
Vikas
V
Kumar
Brāhmī Ghṛta; modified elevated plus maze test; scopolamine