Najmeh Asgharzadeh
, Fatemeh Azizi
* , Mohammad Reza Hojjati
, Leila Roohi
, Zahra Rabiei
, Mehrdad Shahrani-Korani
1 Medical plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
2 Department of physiology, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
3 Department of Physiology, Medical Faculty, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
4 Dept. of Biology, Shahr-e-kord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahr-e-kord -Iran
5 Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
6 Department of Physiology, Medical Faculty, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
Abstract
Background and aims: Duchesne Cucurbita Maxima belongs to the genus cucurbita of the cucurbitaceae family. The consumption of C. maxima has several beneficial effects on human health because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties. They are rich source of bioactive compounds. Our primary purpose in this study is to investigate the impact of C. maxima extract on motor coordination and memory deficits caused by scopolamine (SCOP). Methods: In this experimental study, 56 Wistar rats were divided into eight groups. In order to induce memory impairment, scopolamine was administered 1 mg/kg body weight, i.p. daily for 21 consecutive days. Hydroalcoholic extract of C. maxima was prepared using 70% ethanol and it was administered with concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.p. for 21 days. The shuttle box, Morris water maze (MWM) and rotarod tests were evaluated. Finally, Serum and brain levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were also determined. Results: The MWM results showed that animals received SCOP and C. maxima extract in concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg spent more time on the target platform than the SCOP group. In the shuttle test, the secondary latency time of rats that received SCOP and C. maxima extract at concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg was significantly longer than that of rats treated with SCOP. Furthermore, no remarkable effects were observed on motor coordination. C. maxima extract in concentrations of 50 and 200 mg/kg significantly decreased brain MDA and increase in TAC level compared to scopolamine group rats. Conclusion: It can be concluded that C. maxima extract improves SCOP-induced memory deficits by reducing oxidative stress.