title: The protective effects of Cyperus rotundus on behavior and cognitive function in a rat model of hypoxia injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypoxia injury (HI) with its long-term neurological complications is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Currently, the treatment regimens for hypoxia are aimed only at ameliorating the damage without complete cure. The need, therefore, for novel therapeutic drugs to treat HI continues.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates the protective effects of the ethanol extract of Cyperus rotundus L. (Cyperaceae) (EECR), a medicinal plant used in Ayurvedic traditional medicine against sodium nitrite-induced hypoxia in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have evaluated the protective effect of 200 and 400 mg/kg of EECR against sodium nitrite-induced hypoxia injury in rats by assessing the cognitive functions, motor, and behavioral effects of EECR treatment along with the histological changes in the brain. By comparing the protective effects of standard drugs galantamine, a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor and pyritinol, an antioxidant nootropic drug against sodium nitrite-induced hypoxia in rats, we have tested the protective ability of EECR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EECR at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg was able to protect against the cognitive impairments, and the locomotor activity and muscular coordination defects, which are affected by sodium nitrite-induced hypoxia injury in rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our results, we suggest that the medicinal herb C. rotundus possesses a protective effect against sodium nitrite-induced hypoxia in rats. Further studies on these protective effects of EECR may help in designing better therapeutic regimes for hypoxia injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, CL Baid Metha Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education and Research , Thoraipakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu , India .
authors.forename: Dhas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jebasingh
authors.forename: Dhas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Devavaram Jackson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venkataraman
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adeghate
authors.forename: Bright
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Starling Emerald
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D029786:Cyperus / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005702:Galantamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D011746:Pyrithioxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012977:Sodium Nitrite / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D005702:Galantamine; D011746:Pyrithioxin; D012977:Sodium Nitrite
keywords: EECR; galantamine; neuroprotection; pyritinol; sodium nitrite