Evaluating the effect of water extract of Elaeagnus angustifolia on learning and memory in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Backgrounds and Objectives: One complication of diabetes is impairment of memory. It has been reported that administration of water extract of Elaeagnus angustifolia improves learning and memory in animal model of dementia. The aim of this study was evaluating the effect of water extract of Elaeagnus angustifolia on learning and memory abilities in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Material and Methods: This experimental study performed on 30 male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into 3 groups (n=10): control, diabetic and treatment groups. Induction of diabetes was done by injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). After injection of streptozotocin, animals of treatment groups received water extract of Elaeagnus angustifolia (200 mg/kg/day) for 21 days. Finally, the spatial learning and memory was assessed by Morris water maze in the end of study. Finding: In the learning phase, diabetic rats significantly showed higher escape latency compared to control rats (P<0.05). However, administration of Elaeagnus angustifolia led to decrease in escape latency compared to diabetic rats (P<0.0001). In the memory phase, the target zone preference declined significantly in the diabetic rats group (P<0.05). While treatment with Elaeagnus angustifolia significantly prevented the memory dysfunction as indicated by increasing the time spent in the target quadrant (P<0.05). Conclusions: Water extract of Elaeagnus angustifolia improved spatial learning and memory in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

کلیدواژه ها:

Elaeagnus angustifolia ، Memory ، Streptozotocin ، Morris water maze