This is a new one for me. Anyone know more?


1: J Med Food. 2006 Spring;9(1):113-8.

Nardostachys jatamansi improves learning and memory in mice.

Joshi H, Parle M.

Department of Pharmacognosy, SET's College of Pharmacy, Dharwad, Karnataka,
India.

Cure of cognitive disorders such as amnesia, attention deficit, and Alzheimer's
disease is still far from being realized in the field of medicine. Nootropic
agents such as piracetam, aniracetam, and choline esterase inhibitors like
donepezil are being used for improving memory, mood, and behavior, but the
resulting side effects associated with these agents have made their applicability
limited. In Ayurveda, the roots of Nardostachys jatamansi have been clinically
employed for their anti-ischemic, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, and
neuroprotective activities. The present study was undertaken to assess the
potential of N. jatmansi as a memory enhancer. The elevated plus maze and the
passive avoidance paradigm were employed to evaluate learning and memory
parameters. Three doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) of an ethanolic extract of
N. jatamansi were administered for 8 successive days to both young and aged mice.
The 200 mg/kg dose of N. jatmansi ethanolic extract significantly improved
learning and memory in young mice and also reversed the amnesia induced by
diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.). Furthermore, it also
reversed aging-induced amnesia due to natural aging of mice. As
scopolamine-induced amnesia was reversed, it is possible that the memory
improvement may be because of facilitation of cholinergic transmission in the
brain. Hence, N. jatmansi might prove to be a useful memory restorative agent in
the treatment of dementia seen in elderly persons. The underlying mechanism of
action can be attributed to its antioxidant property.


PMID: 16579738 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]