Effect of Anwala churna (Emblica offcinalis GAERTN.): An ayurvedic preparation on memory deficit rats

Abstract

The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of Anwala churna (Emblica officinalis GAERTN.), an Ayurvedic preparation, on memory in rats. Anwala churna was administered orally in three doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) for 15 days to different groups of young and aged rats. The elevated plus-maze and Hebb-Williams maze served as exteroceptive behavioral models for testing memory. Diazepam-, scopolamine-, and ageing induced amnesia served as the interoceptive behavioral models. Anwala churna (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a dose-dependent improvement in memory scores of young and aged rats. Furthermore, it reversed the amnesia induced by scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Based on these results, Anwala churna may prove to be a useful remedy for the management of Alzheimer's disease due to its multifarious beneficial effects such as memory improvement and reversal of memory deficits. © 2007 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.