Effects of Hydro-Alcoholic Extract of Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) on Morphine State – Dependent Learning in Nicotine- Treated Mice

State -dependent learning is the phenomenon through which memory retrieval is most efficient when an individual is in the same state of consciousness as they were when the memory was formed. M. officinalis has also terpenoides that is useful in memory and learning. Moreover nicotine can affect on memory and learning by nicotinic receptors of hippocampus cholinergic system. The present study was conducted on the effects of Melissa Officinalis (MO) extract on SDL in mice.p 66 male mice were selected and allocated to 8 groups (n=6).To study memory in mice using passive avoidance method to measure step-down latency. The obtained results showed that injection of pretraining of nicotine (0.1mg/kg) and pre – testing of Melisa officinalis extract25 mg/kg intraperitoneally can improve memory and also and pre – testing of nicotine ( 0.1mg/kg) and pretraining of extract ( 25 mg/kg( intraperitoneally can improve memory . Interaction effect of nicotine and Varangboo improves memory. Keywords; Melisa Officinalis Extract (Varangboo) , Steady StateDependent Learning , Nicotine, Mice Received 20/01/2016 Accepted 24/04/2016 ©2016 Society of Education, India How to cite this article: Ramesh A, Azadeh K, 1Saeede P. Effects of Hydro-Alcoholic Extract of Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) on Morphine State – Dependent Learning in NicotineTreated Mice. Adv. Biores. Vol 7 [3] May 2016: 73-77.DOI: 10.15515/abr.0976-4585.7.3.7377 INTRODUCTION M. officinalis enhances memory and relieves stress [1]. One of the main properties of M. officinalis is its antioxidant property which is due to the presence of special compounds in it. M. officinalis extract has polyphenolic compounds, such as quercetin, gallic acid, as well as flavonoids, aldehyde, and tannin compounds. Due to its medicinal properties, M. officinalis has been used in other studies for examining its effectson Alzheimer, memory, learning, and depression. [2] .Melissa Officinalis L. (Labiatae) has been frequently used in Iranian traditional medicine to treat neurological disorders such as depression and anxiety, and it is also mentioned as a memory enhancing herb [3].The extract of M. officinalis has a cholinergic property [4]. As well as neurotropic action [5] Nicotine enhances attention and cognitive performance [6].nAChR agonists, including nicotine, enhance cognition, memory and promote learning by actions in a number of different brain circuits; however, the underlying mechanisms are yet not completely understood [79].Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are widely expressed throughout the brain [10]. The aim of present article is to give a brief overview of effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) on morphine state – dependent learning in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Animals Mice weighed 25±30 g were used at the beginning of the study. The animals were purchased from the Pasteur institute of Iran. 6 animals were housed per cage in clear polycarbonate cages, maintained under a 12:12-h light/ dark cycle, and given access to food and water ad libitum .Behavioral testing was done Advances