Effects of Melissa officinalis on ethanol state-dependent learning in nicotine- treated mice

Subject Areas : zoology

رامش احمدی ¹ (هیئت علمی دانشگاه أزاد اسلامی واحد قم)
فریبرز فریبرز صبوری صولتی ² (فارغ التحصیل)

Received: 2016-08-02 Accepted : 2016-08-29 Published : 2016-02-20

Keywords: nicotine- treated mice, ethanol state- dependent learning, Mellisa officinalis extract (Varangboo),

Abstract :

Objectives :Melissa officinalis has antioxidant and antidepressant effects. Besides, it could be good in learning and memory due to its terpenoides. The possible role of Melissa officinalis on ethanol state – dependent learning was studied in adult nicotine-treated male mice. Materials : As a model of memory, a single –trial step- down passive avoidance task was used. In this project, ethanol (0.25, 1g/kg) and nicotine (0.01, 0.1mg/kg) was administrated 30 minutes before training and testing. Melissa officinalis extract (25 mg/kg) was administrated 30 minutes before testing, and then step down latency (SDL) was measured. Key finding: The obtained results showed that administration of ethanol (0.25, 1 g/kg) and nicotine (0.1 mg/kg) before training could decrease SDL, whereas, nicotine (0.01mg/kg) increased SDL.Conclusion : Pre testing administration of ethanol (1 g/kg), nicotine (0.1mg/kg) and Melissa officinalis extract (25mg/kg) could ameliorate decreasing effects of pre training ethanol (0.25, 1g/kg) and nicotine (0.1mg/kg) on SDL.