Neurotrophic effects of turmeric on the memory of the mouse using the Morris water maze test

Abstract

Background: Turmeric is a yellow-orange spice found mainly in India and other parts of Asia and South America, and is widely used for its medicinal properties. Curcumin, the main part of the turmeric rhizome, may have properties that can improve the memory of mice in a step-through latency test. Aims and Objectives: In this study, turmeric was utilized to determine its effect on the memory of mice using the Morris water maze (MWM) to assess spatial memory of rodents. Materials and Methods: Determination of the effect of intake of turmeric powder in sterile olive oil was observed, as well as the effects of the different doses of administration (control, 5 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, and 45 mg/kg) of turmeric based on the performance of mice in the MWM. Further investigation was done by analyzing the apoptotic count on the hippocampal area of the mouse brain. Results: No significant effects were detected on the analysis of both the pre-treatment and posttreatment data on the MWM test, which may imply that the observed downhill trend may be due to chance alone. On the other hand, the significant difference brought about by the treatments of 5 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, and 45 mg/kg doses on the comparison against the control on the histological analysis by counting the apoptotic cells on the mouse hippocampus was observed. Conclusion: The effect of memory improvement of turmeric administration is, therefore, due to the preventive effect of the turmeric against oxidative stress and its ability to inhibit the apoptosis, or programmed cell death, of neurons. Thus, turmeric has the ability to protect brain cells from deterioration and maybe a potential neuroprotective agent if studied further. KEY WORDS:Apoptosis; Curcumin; Hippocampus; Memory; Morris Water Maze; Turmeric INTRODUCTIONTurmeric is a spice native to India and has been used for over 2,500 years. 1,7-bis(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxyphenol)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) or dipheruloyl-methane is the active component of the rhizome of turmeric. [1,2] Although native in India, turmeric is also produced in other parts of , allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license.Asia and South America. Distinguished for its yellow-orange pigment contained in the curcuminoids in the rhizome, turmeric was first cultivated as a dye and was later on used as a cosmetic and as a food additive. Turmeric has been used in different aspects of people ives including as food additives, for cosmetic purposes and source of alternative medications. [3] Curcumin is used for the treatment of various medical conditions, including cystic fibrosis, hemorrhoids, gastric ulcer, colon cancer, breast cancer, atherosclerosis, liver diseases, arthritis, dementia, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, and traumatic brain injury. [4,5] Moreover, it exhibits a remarkably wide range of pharmacological effects that may account for its ...