title: Effect of Prunus domestica L. (mirabelle) on learning and memory in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plums have been known to have various pharmacological activities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of administration of hydro-alcoholic extract of plum, using passive avoidance task.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were divided into four groups (n = 7 each) one control and three plum (75, 100, 150 mg/kg) groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The control group received saline and plum groups received the extract by oral gavage for 7 days. The number of trials to acquisition, step through latency (STLr) in the retention test and the time spent in the dark compartment (TDC) during the retention test were measured.
  
  
  METHODS
  Differences between groups were tested by one-way ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference was found in the number of trials to acquisition between the groups. The results also indicated in the retention test, administration of 75 and 100 mg/kg plum caused an increased STLr (compared with the untreated control group). The results also showed that the total time spent in TDC by the animals of the extract groups was lower than that of the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hydro-alcoholic extract of plum has a beneficial effect on learning and memory in passive avoidance task. It can be concluded that its antioxidant and antidyslipidemic activities may be involved in the obtained effects.
authors: Department of Physiology, Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors: Siamak
authors: S
authors: Shahidi
authors: Department of Biology, School of Basic Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Hamadan, Iran.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Setareye
authors: Department of Biology, School of Basic Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Hamadan, Iran.
authors: Minoo
authors: M
authors: Mahmoodi
keywords: Learning; Prunus domestica L; memory; mice