Syzygium Cumini (L.) Seed Extract Improves Memory Related Learning Ability of Old Rats in Eight Arm Radial Maze

Abstract

Oxidative stress is implicated in age-related deterioration of memory and learning ability. In this study, we evaluated whether oral administration of Syzygium cumini seed extract (SE) ameliorates the learning-related memory of old rats by eight-arm radial maze task. After 12-weeks oral administration of SE extract, learning-related memory was ameliorated, concurrently with decreases in the corticohippcampal levels of lipid peroxide (LPO) and increases in the catalase and AChE activities in the cortex. The levels of LPO were positively correlated with the RMEs. In carotid artery occlusion-induced hypoxia study, the SE-fed rats displayed significantly less microglial invasion, cell swelling and rupture in the cortico-hippocampal brain slices, thus suggesting an antioxidative defense of SE. Chemical analyses of SE revealed substantial amounts of polyphenols and free-radical scavenging activities. Finally, our results show that the S. cumini seed extract improves learning-related memory in old rats, probably, by instigating the antioxidant defense of the brain.