title: The therapeutic effect of the aqueous extract of boswellia serrata on the learning deficit in kindled rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been reported that epilepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system that causes memory impairment. This study examines the role of the aqueous extract of Boswellia on the learning disability of the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced kindled rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this experimental study, 64 male rats were used. Kindling seizures were induced by three injections of 25 mg/kg of PTZ every 15 min. Control animals received normal saline instead. To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Boswellia extract on the PTZ-induced cognitive deficits, the aqueous extract (0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1 g/kg, i.p.) were administrated to all animals for three consecutive days. At 24 h later, passive avoidance learning of animals was examined using shuttle box apparatus, respectively. The time required for the animal stepping through the dark chamber was determined as step-through latency (STL). Data were subjected to the t-test and analysis of variance and followed by Tukey's test for multiple comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The STL of the kindled rats was significantly reduced compared with control ones (22/375 ± 4/19 for kindled and 295 ± 15/71 for control groups, respectively). Aqueous extract of Boswellia improved passive-avoidance learning ability in both control and PTZ-kindled animals (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results can be stated that the Boswellia extract is offset by harmful effects of seizures on cognitive function and consumption of Boswellia extract increases the learning ability in epileptic animals.
authors.affiliation: Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: Cyrus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jalili
authors.affiliation: Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Salahshoor
authors.affiliation: Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: Sima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical School, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pourmotabbed
authors.affiliation: Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: Moslem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motaghi
keywords: Boswellia; PTZ-kindling; passive-avoidance learning; rat