title: Memory-enhancing activities of the aqueous extract of Albizia adianthifolia leaves in the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesion rodent model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W. Wright (Fabaceae) is a traditional herb largely used in the African traditional medicine as analgesic, purgative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and memory-enhancer drug. This study was undertaken in order to evaluate the possible cognitive-enhancing and antioxidative effects of the aqueous extract of A. adianthifolia leaves in the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesion rodent model of Parkinson's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of the aqueous extract of A. adianthifolia leaves (150 and 300 mg/kg, orally, daily, for 21 days) on spatial memory performance was assessed using Y-maze and radial arm-maze tasks, as animal models of spatial memory. Pergolide-induced rotational behavior test was employed to validate unilateral damage to dopamine nigrostriatal neurons. Also, in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed through the estimation of total flavonoid and total phenolic contents along with determination of free radical scavenging activity. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Significant differences were determined by Tukey's post hoc test. F values for which p<0.05 were regarded as statistically significant. Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used in order to evaluate the association between behavioral parameters and net rotations in rotational behavior test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 6-OHDA-treated rats exhibited the following: decrease of spontaneous alternations percentage within Y-maze task and increase of working memory errors and reference memory errors within radial arm maze task. Administration of the aqueous extract of A. adianthifolia leaves significantly improved these parameters, suggesting positive effects on spatial memory formation. Also, the aqueous extract of A. adianthifolia leaves showed potent in vitro antioxidant activity. Furthermore, in vivo evaluation, the aqueous extract of A. adianthifolia leaves attenuated the contralateral rotational asymmetry observed by pergolide challenge in 6-OHDA-treated rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our results suggest that the aqueous extract of A. adianthifolia leaves possesses antioxidant potential and might provide an opportunity for management neurological abnormalities in Parkinson's disease conditions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Yaoundé I, Yaounde, Cameroon. galbajeanbeppe@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Galba Jean
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Beppe
authors.forename: Alain Bertrand
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Dongmo
authors.forename: Harquin Simplice
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Foyet
authors.forename: Nolé
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsabang
authors.forename: Zenovia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Olteanu
authors.forename: Oana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cioanca
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hancianu
authors.forename: Théophile
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dimo
authors.forename: Lucian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hritcu
mesh_terms: D031289:Albizzia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016627:Oxidopamine