Effects of sage extract on memory performance in mice and acetylcholinesterase activity.
BACKGROUND
Salvia officinalis L. (sage) has been widely used in the Tunisian traditional medicine for the treatment of digestive system and memory disorders.


OBJECTIVE
This work aims to investigate the anti-amnesiac and antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of S. officinalis (ASOE) in mice.


METHODS
Evaluation of memory functions in rodents was assessed by Y-maze active test after an initial acquisition phase.


RESULTS
Results showed that the S. officinalis aqueous extract had high total phenolic contents (6.2mg gallic E/g extract) and flavonoids (2.44mg catechin E/g extract). It exhibited an interesting scavenging activity (IC50=14.5μg/ml). The mice treated with 300mg/kg body weight for 7 days exhibited a significant decrease in avoidance and discrimination errors during a retention trial compared to control group (P<0.05). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity significantly decreased in mice treated with the extract of sage.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggested that aqueous extract of sage leaves possess a mnemonic effect on adult male mice, confirming their use in traditional medicine.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Street Mohamed Karoui, 4002 Sousse, Tunisia. Electronic address: dalifms@live.fr.
M A
MA
Smach
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Street Mohamed Karoui, 4002 Sousse, Tunisia.
J
J
Hafsa
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Street Mohamed Karoui, 4002 Sousse, Tunisia.
B
B
Charfeddine
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Street Mohamed Karoui, 4002 Sousse, Tunisia.
H
H
Dridi
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Street Mohamed Karoui, 4002 Sousse, Tunisia.
K
K
Limem
D000818:Animals; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027543:Salvia officinalis / Q000737:chemistry*
D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts
AChE; Avoidance errors; Cognitive performance; Erreurs d’évitement; Performance cognitive; Salvia officinalis L.; Sauge officinale