Neuroprotective and nootropic evaluation of Myristica malabarica on diabetes-induced cognitive impairment in experimental animals: Promising for controlling the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

This study intends to explore the neuroprotective and memory-enhancing properties of Myristica malabarica (MM) leaf extracts on diabetic-induced cognitive decline rats. The models of Y maze and Morris water maze were selected for nootropic activity and neuroprotective properties were deliberate by assessing the levels of Ach, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO), catalase (CAT) and glutathione hormone (GSH) in diabetic rat brains. Significantly improved memory and learning with 100 mg/kg (P < 0.01) and 200 mg/kg (P < 0.001) of EAMM (L) and MAMM (L) in Y maze and Morris water maze models. Significant effect was observed in all the extracts with two doses when compared with diabetic control on day 75. The levels of AChE (P < 0.001), MDA (P < 0.01), and NO (P < 0.05) were decreased significantly and significantly raised (P < 0.01) levels of SOD, CAT, and GSH with MAMM (100 and 200 mg/kg) compared with disease control. Further studies on MM leaf are needed as evidence of cognitive impairment in defense against diabetes has been shown to expose its mode of action.