Protective effect of ethanolic extract of Cannabis sativa leaf on memory of Alzheimer's male Wistar rats
Subject Areas : Experimental physiology and pathologyمهسا اسزافیل زاده 1 , اکرم عیدی 2 , پژمان مرتضوی 3 , شهربانو عریان 4
1 - گروه زیست شناسی، دانشکده علوم پایه، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران
2 - گروه زیست شناسی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران
3 - گروه پاتولوژی،دانشکده دامپزشکی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران
4 - گروه زیست شناسی، دانشکده علوم پایه، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران
Keywords: Streptozotocin, Rat, Cannabis sativa L, Memory, Cannabis,
Abstract :
Background and aims: Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) has long been known to have analgesic, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Cannabinoids are a group of C21 terpenophenolic compounds uniquely produced by Cannabis sativa plant. In the present study, the effect of cannabis ethanolic extract on neurodegeneration induced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of streptozotocin (STZ), was investigated in adult male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: The rats were randomly divided into 9 groups: normal control, Sham-operated control (saline, ICV), cannabis extract (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 g/kg intragastrically, daily) alone, Alzheimer control rats (STZ, 3 µl, 3 mg/kg, ICV), cannabis extract (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 g/kg intragastrically, daily) together with STZ, and treatment was performed accordingly. Animals were injected with STZ bilaterally, on the 1st and 3rd days. Administration of cannabis extract (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 g/kg) was started 1 h before the first dose of STZ and continued up to 30 days. The learning and memory behaviour was assessed by a passive avoidance test 30 days after the first dose and parameters of step-through latency (STL) and time in the dark compartment (TDC) and step-through latency (STL) were evaluated by shuttle box. Results: Our results showed that administration of cannabis extract (0.1 and 0.2 g/kg) significantly improved STZ-induced cognitive impairment. Cannabis extract increased the levels of STL, while decreased TDC levels. Conclusion: These results indicate that cannabis extract is effective against memory deficit, oxidative stress, and neuronal damage induced by STZ.
