Memory enhancing activity of methanolic extract of Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of methanolic extract of Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. on learning and memory in albino mice. Two doses of methanolic extract of P. marsupium (25 and 50 mg/kg p.o.) were administered for neurotoxicity test. The mice administered with 25 mg/kg of the extract could significantly maintain the equilibrium on the rotating rod. Elevated plus-maze and Morris water maze test were employed to test learning and memory in mice. Administration of P. marsupium significantly ameliorated scopolamine induced amnesia in elevated plus maze test as indicated by increase in inflexion ratio and reduction in transfer latency. In the Morris water maze test, P. marsupium improveed the impairment of spatial memory induced by scopolamine as indicated by the formation of reference and working memories. Since scopolamine-induced amnesia was reversed by P. marsupium, it is possible that the beneficial effects on learning and memory were due to facilitation of cholinergic-transmission in mouse brain. However, further studies are required to identify the exact mechanism of action. In the present investigation, P. marsupium has shown promise as a memory enhancing agent in all the laboratory models employed.