Speaker
Description
Introduction: Memory disorders are considered a general and most common symptom in many neurodegenerative diseases. Despite the availability of some nutraceuticals and herbal supplements which are abusively used as nootropics and memory enhancers, insufficient evidence to justify their efficacies, have serious adverse effects, and their exorbitant prices have made therapeutic success in memory disorders elusive. More so, since the precise mechanism(s) of underlying pathophysiology of memory disorders is not completely understood, therapeutic need is yet unmet. Meanwhile, many medicinal plants and herbal recipes are being advertised freely in the market and used as nootropics in the management of memory disorders, yet these claims have not been investigated.
Objectives: to investigate the ethnomedicinal claims of some medicinal plants as memory enhancers, and anti-aging using experimental models of learning and memory.
Method: Ethnomedicinal survey of plants with claims as memory-enhancers and anti-aging remedies was conducted in Ibarapa Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Frequently mentioned medicinal plants in the survey were selected for evaluation so as to justify the ethnomedicinal claims. The selected medicinal plants were collected from the wild, authenticated and deposited at the herbarium and preparations of different extracts were made. Novelty-Induced Behaviours (NIB) was carried out using Open Field Test to screen medicinal plants with central activities. Thereafter, memory parameters will be explored in mice using Elevated plus maze and Morris Water Maze (MWM). Also, the histopathology of brain tissue preparations will be carried out to determine catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrite, and protein levels to evaluate anti-aging property of the selected medicinal plants.
Result/Discussion: results obtained from the ethnomedicinal survey revealed that about 105 medicinal plants are being used as memory enhancers and anti-aging remedies in Ibarapa Area of Oyo State. They are called different local names as: “marugbo takebe”, ”oogun isoye,”, ”ajidewe”, ”sagba dewe”, “sarugbo domidan” among others. The most frequently used parts of the medicinal plants are leaves, stem and root barks, and fruits.
Conclusion: preliminary results obtained so far showed that some of the medicinal plants have central activities thus, scientifically suggesting the rationale for their potential use in the management of memory disorders.
Keywords: learning and memory, memory-enhancers, anti-aging, ethno-medicinal survey, Ibarapa Area
