title: Effect of ethanolic extract of Acacia auriculiformis leaves on learning and memory in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects and benefits of Acacia auriculiformis on health are not well established. This study was planned to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract of Acacia auriculiformis leaves on learning and memory in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Learning and memory were evaluated using passive avoidance paradigm and rewarded alternation test (T-maze) after the oral administration of two doses (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg) of ethanolic extract of Acacia auriculiformis with rivastigmine as positive control. Forty eight rats were divided into 4 groups in each study model. Estimation of brain cholinesterase activity was done to substantiate the results of the above mentioned tests. Data was analyzed using one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's post-hoc test using GraphPad InStat software, version 3.06.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extract produced a dose-dependent improvement in the memory score namely the step through latency in passive avoidance model (P < 0.001) and the percentage of correct responses in rewarded alternation test (P < 0.05). Dose-dependent inhibition of brain cholinesterase activity (P < 0.001) was also noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The acetylcholinesterase inhibiting property of Acacia auriculiformis contributes to its memory enhancing potential. Further large scale studies are required to elucidate its benefits on cognitive function. This may offer a promising new option for the treatment of dementia and other cognitive deficits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Ajitha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Melaka Malaysian Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Manjunath
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Amrita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parida
authors.affiliation: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adiga
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Shobha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.lastname: Sowjanya
keywords: Acacia auriculiformis; acetylcholinesterase; memory; passive avoidance; rewarded alternation