Design Development and Evaluation of Memory Enhancing Potential of Poly-Herbal Formulation

Ayurvedic arrangement of medication is as old as human progress. Present study includes the development of a Polyherbal formulation by utilizing four different herbs, Pumpkin seed (Cucurbita maxima), Sunflower seed (Helianthus annus), Spinach leaves (Spinach oleracea), and Beet root (Beta vulgaris). Ethanol (90%) was utilized for preparation of polyherbal tincture. Freshly collected and authenticated herbs were characterized by pharmacognostical character and physicochemical assessment. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, amino acid, tannin, steroids and flavonoid in the tincture. Physical parameters like solubility, pH, ash values, LOD, extractive value etc. has been studied. The antioxidant activity of the tincture was determined by using DPPH free radical scavenging method. The results showed that the tincture has best antioxidant effect at a dose of 100μg/ml when it was compared with ascorbic acid as reference standard. From the acute toxicity studies safe dose and therapeutic experimental dose was found to be 300mg/kg. In-Vivo memory enhancing activity of Polyherbal formulation was evaluated by radial arm maze model in rats using Piracetam as a standard. Polyherbal formulation at the dose of 300mg/kg conc showed significant to highly significant memory enhancing potential. The result suggested that Polyherbal formulation possess in vivo memory enhancing activity and this might be due to Flavonoid, Phenolic compounds, Steroids or other constituents present in formulation. Keywords: Polyherbal formulation, Physicochemical, Antioxidant, Memory enhancing activity.