Investigation of Origanum Vulgare L. leaf extract on ethanol-induced impairment of working memory on male rat

Background and Aim : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different doses of hydroalcoholic extract of Origanum vulgare L. leaf on ethanol-induced impairment of working memory on male rat. The hippocampus plays a central role in the learning and memory processes.Methods : In this study, 56 male Wistar rats were divided into 8 groups of 7. Rats were treated with 100, 200, 300 mg/kg doses of the plant extract, ethanol, and saline for 20 consecutive days. After completing the treatment period and undergoing food deprivation and training period, the number of working memory and reference memory errors was calculated using radial arm maze test based on DSWD protocol.Results : Observations showed that the ethanol group had the highest number of working and reference memory errors, whereas this number decreased in the rat treated with ethanol and the plant extract. Rat treated with Origanum vulgare L. extract (300mg/kg) and saline showed the lowest number of errors. The results indicate that ethanol affects the hippocampus by increasing oxidative stress causing impairment of working and reference memory. Ethanol also damages hippocampal pyramidal cells.Conclusion : The results of this study showed that extract of Origanum vulgare with its antioxidant effect improves working and reference memory impairment.

کلیدواژه ها:

Origanum vulgare L. ، Ethanol ، Hippocampus ، Working memory ، Rat