Abstract:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible multi-factorial disease that marks the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly population having cognitive decline as a primary clinical attribute. The present study pursued the evaluation of Euphorbia prostrata (E. prostrata) against scopolamine-induced Alzheimer’s disease in Wistar albino rats. Total five groups of animals (having 90 rats) were included in the present study to access the therapeutic impact of E. prostrata. Morris water maze, radial arm maze, and elevated plus maze were evaluated for estimating learning and memory activity. The diverse parameters including oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, and acetylcholinesterase assay were assessed to estimate the mechanism of action. The consequences of the present investigation revealed the development of experimental dementia by administration of scopolamine. Whereas the treatment of E. prostrata (100 and 200 mg/kg, per oral (p.o.) and donepezil (1 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly improved the learning and memory ability in scopolamine treated rats. Incomparable to donepezil, the treatment of a higher dose of E. prostrata (200 mg/kg, p.o.) was more effective than compared to the low dose of E. prostrata (100 mg/kg, p.o.). Treatment of donepezil and a higher dose of E. prostrata (200 mg/kg, p.o.) produced comparable results for antiinflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity. The outcomes of the present investigation showed the memory-enhancing activity of E. prostrata (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) against scopolamine-induced amnesia in rats. This effect of E. prostrata may be due to the inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase activity, through the involvement of an anti-inflammatory pathway and due to its antioxidant potential.

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