EFFECT OF HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF DRIED FRUITS OF TRAPA NATANS L ON ANIMAL MODELS OF COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION

In the traditional system of medicine, the dried fruits of Trapa natans L var bispinosa (TB) have been employed clinically for their nutritional and medicinal property like nervine tonic. The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of fruits of Trapa natans L var bispinosa was investigated for its nootropic activity using various experimental paradigms of learning and memory, viz. transfer latency (TL) on elevated plus-maze, passive avoidance response (PAS), scopolamine induced amnesia (SIA) and brain acetylcholineestrase activity in albino mice. The investigation reported that TB 500 mg/kg significantly reduced the TL on 2nd and 9th day while TB 250 mg/kg was found effective on 9th day. TB 250 and 500 mg/kg significantly increased the step down latency in the PAS at acquisition and retention test. The extract also significantly attenuated the amnesic effects of scopolamine on the TL and SDL. The brain AchE levels were not altered with the pretreatment TB. In present investigation TB extract showed significant facilitatory effect on aversively motivated learning and memory in mice. moreover it attenuates the scopolamine induced memory disruption in mice.