Effect Of Ethanolic Extract Of Catharanthus Roseus Flower On Scopolamine Induced Amnesia

Abstract

Amnesia is a memory loss disorder due to brain injury, shock, fatigue, repression or illness. Catharanthus roseus is one plant recognized well in Ayurveda. It is known for its antitumour, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and anti mutagenic effects. It is an evergreen plant first originated from islands of Madagascar. It produces nearly 130 alkaloids mainly ajmalcine, vinceine, resperine, vincristine, vinblastine and raubasin. Vincristine and vinblastine are used for the treatment of various types of cancer such as Hodgkin's disease, breast cancer, skin cancer and lymphoblastic leukemia. The present investigation has been undertaken to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of Catharanthus roseus flower on Scopolamine induced amnesia. In the present study, C roseus administered orally for 15 days improved the memory of mice as reflected by diminished escape latency and percentage alteration values as compared to control animals. There is an increase in escape latency in negative control group when compared with the control group (P<0.001) of the four groups of amnesia induced animals, both showed decreased time to the escape platform. Epidemiological studies have almost confirmed that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the incidence of Amnesia. Catharanthus roseus has been shown to produce anti-inflammatory action of mice. Oxygen free-radicals are implicated in the process of age-related decline in cognitive performance and may be responsible for the development of Amnesia in elderly persons. The study results conclude the significant increase effect of Catharanthus roseus flower extract on memory also.