Amelioration of Cognitive Deficits, Oxidative Damage, Neurochemical Alteration by Bauhinia purpurea (stem bark) on Scopolamine Induced Amnesia

Aim: To evaluate the anti-amnesia effect of Bauhinia purpurea in Scopolamine induced amnesia in rats. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 rats were divided into 5 groups 6 rats in each. Group I considered as normal control. Group II served as negative control. Group III, IV and V were treated with Donepezil (3 mg/kg), ethanolic extract of Bauhinia purpurea 200mg/kg and 400 mg/kg respectively for 14 consecutive days followed by single administration of Scopolamine (3 mg/kg) to all the groups except group I. Cognitive performance was assessed by the Morris water maze, elevated plus maze and passive avoidance paradigm. Acetyl cholinesterase enzyme level, biochemical markers such as lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione and β amyloid 1 42 level, Neurotransmitters including dopamine and serotonin and histopathological study of rat brain were estimated. Results: Bauhinia purpurea and Donepezil rats showed significant increase in escape latency, step-through latency and decreased transfer latency in respective cognitive models of the Morris water maze, passive avoidance test and elevated plus maze. Additionally, Bauhinia purpurea extract remarkably promoted the cholinergic neurotransmission, decreasing β amyloid protein and protected against the oxidative stress damage as indicated by, increasing reduced glutathione level, lowering the level of lipid peroxidation, restored dopamine and serotonin level in the brain. Furthermore, histopathological studies revealed the reversal of neuronal damage in the treatment group compared to Scopolamine treated rats. Conclusion: Bauhinia purpurea extract showed promising antiamnesia activity against scopolamine induced amnesia in rats. This could be attributed to its brain acetyl cholinesterase level, β amyloid level inhibition, antioxidant activity and alteration in neurotransmitters level. Key words: Bauhinia purpurea, Neuroprotective, Acetylcholinesterase, β amyloid protein, Scopolamine.