Effect of Fenugreek Seed Extract against Induced Cognitive Decline in Experimental Mice

Background

Alzheimer’s disease affecting about 18 million people world-wide. The socio-economic burden on world-economies costing more than 172 billion US $ annually for the US alone.

Objectives

To prepare aqueous extract of T. foenum graecum seeds (FSE) to explore the possible treatment for cognitive deficit in experimental animals.

Materials and Methods

FSE was subjected to preliminary phytochemical evaluation and antioxidant effect using free radical scavenging method (DPPH). All the animal behavior was video recorded with no human intervention during observation and animal groupings were blinded to avoid investigator bias. Different doses of FSE (5%, 10% and 20%), control, standard (Piracetam, 200 mg/kg, IP.) were given for male albino mice a period of 15 days followed by cognitive assessment in elevated plus maze and novel object recognition tests. Transfer latencies and time exploring novel and familiar objects were recorded in respective tests. Retention of this learned-task was examined again 24 hr later and Inflexion Ratio (IR) and Discrimination Index (DI) were calculated respectively. Next in the second set of experiment same groups and treatments were continued but scopolamine was administered to all the groups except normal control 1 hr after the last dose and examined similarly.

Results

FSE showed potential antioxidant effect and a dose dependent increase in transfer latency and improved DI indicating a nootropic effect. FSE at 20% showed significant reversal of scopolamine induced dementia in the second set of experiment.

Conclusion

FSE improved memory as well as reversed the chemically induced memory deficits in experimental mice.