title: Neuroprotective effect ofCelastrus paniculatuson chronic stress-induced cognitive impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several studies report that chronic stress results in impaired spatial learning and working memory and enhanced anxiety-like behavior. However, not many studies have looked into the possible ways of reversing stress-induced deficits.Celastrus paniculatus(CP), a traditional ayurvedic herbal medicine, was used to treat cognitive deficits in mentally retarded children. CP oil has been reported to have neuroprotective and antioxidant activities. However, the effects of CP oil on chronic stress-induced cognitive deficits are unclear. In the present study, we intended to analyze the neuroprotective effects of CP oil on stress-associated cognitive dysfunctions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chronic stress was induced by subjecting rats to restrainers for 6 h a day for 21 days. CP oil (400, 600 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) after stress protocol once a day over the next 14 days. Groups used in the present study: normal control, stress, stress + vehicle, stress + CP oil at 2 different doses (400 and 600 mg/kg, i.p.). After the drug treatment, open field and elevated plus maze (EPM) were used to analyze anxiety-like behavior, and partially baited radial arm maze (RAM) and T-maze were used to evaluate spatial learning and memory capabilities. Analysis has been done using two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni'spost hoctest and one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey'spost hoctest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stressed rats showed enhanced anxiety-like behavior in EPM (P< 0.001) and impaired performance in RAM (P< 0.001) and T-maze tasks (P< 0.001) compared to normal animals. In contrast, CP oil treatment to these rats improved their performance in both RAM (P< 0.001) and T-maze (P< 0.001). In addition, CP oil significantly reduced stress-induced anxiety behavior (P< 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic treatment with CP oil is to improve cognitive abilities in chronically stressed rats. The current study provides a novel perspective on beneficial effect of herbal therapy on stress-induced cognitive dysfunctions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bhagya
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Christofer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Shankaranarayana Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031247:Celastrus; D002908:Chronic Disease; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; C097139:Celastrus oil
keywords: Anxiety; Celastrus paniculatus; chronic stress; cognitive deficits; herbal medicine