Research Article MEMORY ENHANCING ACTIVITY OF CISSAMPELOS PARIERA IN MICE PRAMODINEE D. KULKARNI *1 , MAHESH M. GHAISAS 2 , NIRANJAN D. CHIVATE 3 , POOURNIMA S. SANKPAL 4 ,3,4 Kct’s Krishna College of Pharmacy, Malkapur, Karad, Maharashtra Pin415110 India, 2 Indira College of Pharmacy, Thathawade , Pune , Maharashtra, India. Email: kulkarnipv07@gmail.com, niranjanbpharm@rediffmail.com Received: 07 Jan 2011, Revised and Accepted: 09 Feb 2011 ABSTRACT The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Cissampelos pariera on learning and memory in mice. Elevated plus maze and passive avoidance paradigm were employed to test learning and memory. Three doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) of hydroalcoholic extract were administered for 7 successive days in separate group of animals. The dose of 400‐mg/kg p.o. of CPE significantly improved learning and memory of mice. Furthermore, this dose significantly reversed the amnesia induced by scopolamine(0.4 mg/kg, p.o.) and ageing induced amnesia. To delineate the mechanism by which CPE exerts nootropic activity, the effect of CPE on whole brain AChE activity was also assessed. CPE also decreased whole brain acetyl cholinesterase activity. Anti –inflammatory and antioxidant properties of C.pariera may be contributing favorably to memory enhancement effect. Here, Piracetam (200 mg/kg, i.p) was used as a standard nootropic agent. Hence C.pariera appears to be a promising candidate for improving memory and it would be worthwhile to explore the potential of this plant in the management of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. However, further studies are necessitated to identify the exact mechanism of action. Keywords: Cissampelos pariera, Alzheimer’s disease INTRODUCTION Alzheimer’s disease [ AD ] is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder that is slow in onset but leads to dementia, unusual behavior, personality changes and ultimately death 1 . AD is characterized by the presence of excessive amounts of neurotic plaques containing amyloid β protein loss of cholinergic markers in brain. Loss of cholinergic cells particularly in the basal forebrain, is accompanied by loss of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine 2 . A decrease in acetyl choline in the brain of patients with AD appears to be a critical element in producing dementia 3 . The cause of AD is not known clearly. Recently, the mainstay treatments for the AD are acetylcholinesterase inhibitor which increase the availability of acetylcholine at cholinergic synapses. AChE inhibitors from general chemical classes such as physostigmine, tacrine, galantamine and heptylphysostigmine have been tested for the symptomatic treatment of AD 4 . However, non selectivity of these drugs, their limited efficacy, and poor bioavailability, adverse cholinergic side effects in the periphery, narrow therapeutic ranges and hepatotoxicity are among the sever limitations to their therapeutic success 5 .Therefore it is worthwhile to explore the utility of traditional medicines for the treatment of various cognitive disorders 6 . In our screening program to search for AChE inhibitors from plants a crude 50% hydroalcoholic extract of roots of C. pariera (Family:Menispermiaceae) exhibited significant AchE inhibitory activity (at 400mg/kg p.o.) The root contains several pharmacologically important alkaloids such as pelosine, bebeerine, hyatine, hyatinine cycleanine, hyatidin bulbocapnine, cissamine, cissampareine ,curine and tetrandrine . In some species of Papaveraceae family, AchE inhibitory activity has been detected and has been traced to benzylisoquinoline alkaloids 7 . In the traditional system of medicine, the roots of C. pariera (Family: Menispermiaceae) have been in clinical use for centuries. Traditionally, the roots have anti‐ inflammatory, expectorant, diuretic, anti‐asthmatic activities. Immunohistochemical studies revealed the existence of chronic inflammation in certain regions of the brain in AD patients. Since inflammation can be damaging to the host tissue, anti‐inflammatory drugs might be beneficial in controlling the progression of AD 8 . In the light of above the present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of C.pariera roots on cognitive functions and cholinesterase activity in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant material The roots of C. pariera were collected from Agriculture College, Pune, in December 2008.The plant material was identified and authenticated taxonomically at Regional Research Institute (AY), Kothrud, Pune. A voucher specimen (214) of collected sample was deposited in the institutional herbarium for future reference. Preparation of extracts Roots of C. pariera were washed with distilled water to remove the dirt and soil and shade dried. The dried material were powdered and passed through a 10‐mesh sieve. The coarsely powdered material was extracted with ethanol (50%v/v) by using Soxhlet’s Extraction method. The extracts were filtered and concentrated at high vacuum (yield 3.4%w/w) Drug treatment For the pharmacological tests, the obtained extract was suspended in double distilled water containing carboxy methyl cellulose (1%w/v CMC) in doses of 100,200,400‐mg/kg p.o. The doses were fixed based on earlier studies on the 50% aqueous ethanolic extract of C. pariera roots extract (CPE) were administered at up to 2 g/kg to individual mice in‐group 9,10,11,12 . There was no mortality due to treatment up to end of the observation period. The C.pariera drug extract caused no abnormality or death during the course of treatment. Animals Swiss mice of either sex weighing18‐20g (younger ones, aged 8 weeks) or 22‐25 g (older ones, aged 28 weeks) were used in present study. They had free access to food and water and were maintained under standard laboratory conditions with alternating light and dark cycles of 12 h each. They were acclimatized to laboratory conditions for 5 days before behavioral studies. All the readings were taken during the same time of the day i.e. between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. The Institution Animals Ethics Committee (IAEC) had approved the experimental protocol, and care of animals was taken as per guidelines of CPCSEA, Department of Animal Welfare, and Government of India. Drugs and chemicals The drug used in this study was obtained from following drug houses. Scopolamine hydrobromide (Sigma‐Aldrich, USA), 5,5‐ dithiobis‐2‐nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB), acetylcholine iodide, eserine (Hi Media, India), Piracetam (UCB India Ltd.) Vehicle The plant extract (CPE) was suspended in 1%w/v CMC and administered orally in mice. Scopolamine hydrobromide and International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN- 0975-1491 Vol 3, Issue 2, 2011