title: Effects of a dragonfly (Anax i.) homeopathic remedy on learning, memory and cell morphology in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which uses highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms similar to those exhibited by patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dragonfly (Anax imperator, Anax i.) on learning and memory in naive mice using the Morris water maze (MWM) test; moreover, the effects of dragonfly on MK-801-induced cognitive dysfunction were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male balb-c mice were treated with dragonfly (30C and 200C) or MK-801 (0.2 mg/kg) alone or concurrently (n = 10). Dragonfly (D) and MK-801 were administered subchronically for 6 days intraperitoneally 60 min and 30 min, respectively, before the daily performance of the MWM test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study revealed that in the familiarization session and first session of the MWM test, Anax i. D30 significantly decreased escape latency compared to the control group, although MK-801, D30 and D200 significantly increased escape latency at the end of five acquisition sessions. Anax i. combined with dizocilpine maleate (MK-801) also significantly decreased escape latency in the familiarization session and first session of the MWM test, although this combination increased escape latency compared to the MK-801 alone group at the end of the test. Time spent in escape platform's quadrant in the probe trial significantly decreased while mean distance to platform significantly increased in MK-801, D30 and D200 groups. In the MWM test, Anax i. combined with MK-801 significantly decreased speed of the animals compared to the MK-801 alone group. General cell morphology was disturbed in the MK-801 group while D30 and D200 seemed to improve cell damage in the MK-801 group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the homeopathic Anax i. can impair learning acquisition and reference memory, and it has beneficial effects on disturbed cell morphology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, 41380, Kocaeli, Turkey. Electronic address: oguzmutlu80@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Oguz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mutlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, 41380, Kocaeli, Turkey. Electronic address: gunerulak@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Guner
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ulak
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical Faculty, Ordu University, 52000, Ordu, Turkey. Electronic address: skokturk@mynet.com.
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kokturk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, 41380, Kocaeli, Turkey. Electronic address: ikcelikyurt@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ipek
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Komsuoglu Celikyurt
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University, 54100, Sakarya, Turkey. Electronic address: pelintanyeri@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tanyeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, 41380, Kocaeli, Turkey. Electronic address: firuzanakar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Furuzan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, 41380, Kocaeli, Turkey. Electronic address: faruk.erden@isbank.net.tr.
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Erden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods*; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D063191:Odonata / Q000737:chemistry*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007301:Insect Hormones; D008419:Materia Medica; D009842:Oligopeptides; C044833:adipokinetic hormone; D011761:Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid
keywords: Adipokinetic hormone; Dragonfly (Anax imperator); Homeopathy; Mice