Calotropis procera: A potential cognition enhancer in scopolamine and electroconvulsive shock-induced amnesia in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Present study evaluates the effect of Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae) dry latex on cognitive function in rats using scopolamine and electroconvulsive shock (ECS) induced amnesia model.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats were pretreated with 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of C. procera dry latex in scopolamine-induced amnesia model. Dose showing maximum effect in cognitive performance was selected and further evaluated using scopolamine and ECS-induced amnesia model for its effect on neurochemical enzymes and cognitive performance. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, β amyloid1-42, and dopamine level were analyzed, while the cognitive performance was assessed by elevated plus maze, step-through passive avoidance test, and Morris water maze. Simultaneously, C. procera dry latex (25, 50, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 μg/mL) was screened for in vitro AChE inhibition assay.


RESULTS
Pretreatment with (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) C. procera dry latex shows dose dependent increase in cognitive performance in scopolamine-induced amnesia. Further, pretreatment with the selected dose (800 mg/kg) showed significant improvement in transfer latency (P < 0.001, P < 0.01), escape latency (P < 0.05), time spent in target quadrant (P < 0.001) also significant decrease in AChE activity (P < 0.05), β amyloid1-42 level (P < 0.001), and increase in dopamine level (P < 0.01) in rat brain homogenate when compared with scopolamine and ECS disease control groups. IC50 for C. procera dry latex was found to be <1000 μg/mL.


CONCLUSIONS
Pretreatment with C. procera dry latex (800 mg/kg) produced significant cognition enhancement by improving cognitive performance and decreasing the marker neurochemical enzyme activity in scopolamine and ECS-induced amnesia model.
Department of Pharmacology, KLE University's College of Pharmacy, Belagavi, Karnataka, India.
Rohit
R
Malabade
Department of Pharmacology, KLE University's College of Pharmacy, Belagavi, Karnataka, India.
Ashok D
AD
Taranalli
D000647:Amnesia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D031107:Calotropis / Q000737:chemistry*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004597:Electroshock / Q000009:adverse effects; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000633:toxicity
D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012601:Scopolamine; D004298:Dopamine
Acetylcholinesterase; Alzheimer's disease; Dopamine; β amyloid1-42