Sains Malaysiana 40(10)(2011): 1097–1103

Effects of Aqueous Extract of Prismatomeris glabra Root on Non-Spatial

Memory in Rats Using Object Discrimination Test

(Kesan Ekstrak Akues Akar Prismatomeris glabra ke atas Memori Bukan Ruang Tikus Menggunakan Ujian Diskriminasi Objek)

Norazrina Azmi*, Wei-Theng Loh, Siti Suriani Omar & Juriyati Jalil

Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz

50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Aishah Adam

Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Kampus Puncak Alam, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Received: 18 August 2010/Accepted: 14 January 2011

ABSTRACT

The aqueous extract of Prismatomeris glabra root has been used traditionally in Malaysia by the aborigines and certain rural Malays for its ergogenic effects, to maintain wellness and to enhance physical stamina. It has also been used as an aphrodisiac for generations in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Previous studies have shown that plants with ergogenic effects may also act as a stimulant and impair cognitive function. Therefore, we seek to investigate the effects of P. glabra on non-spatial memory in male Sprague Dawley rats using object recognition test. Trial rats were injected intraperitoneally with an aqueous extract of P. glabra roots at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg for the acute (30 min) and subacute (7 days) studies. Scopolamine (0.3 mg/kg) was used as a positive control only in the acute study meanwhile control rats were injected with saline. The locomotor activity of rats was also determined in the same test. We demonstrated that groups treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg of the extract lost their ability to discriminate the novel from familiar object in choice phase and did not alter the locomotor activity in both studies. Our results also indicated that the deficits in non-spatial working memory occured at these doses were not due to impaired locomotor activity.

Keywords: Aqueous extract; locomotor activity; non-spatial memory; object discrimination test; Prismatomeris glabra

ABSTRAK

Ekstrak akues akar Prismatomeris glabra telah digunakan secara tradisi di Malaysia oleh Orang Asli dan penduduk Melayu luar bandar untuk kesan ergogenik, memelihara kesihatan dan meningkatkan stamina fizikal. Rebusan airnya juga digunakan sebagai afrodisiak sejak turun-temurun di kawasan pantai timur Semenanjung Malaysia. Kajian lepas menunjukkan bahawa tumbuhan yang memberi kesan ergogenik boleh bertindak sebagai perangsang dan mengganggu fungsi kognitif. Oleh itu, kajian ini dilakukan untuk mengkaji kesan ekstrak ke atas memori bukan ruang tikus jantan Sprague Dawley menggunakan ujian diskriminasi objek. Tikus disuntik dengan ekstrak akues akar P. glabra secara intraperitoneum pada dos 50 dan 100 mg/kg untuk kajian akut (30 minit) dan subakut (7 hari). Skopolamina (0.3 mg/kg) digunakan sebagai kawalan positif untuk kajian akut sahaja manakala tikus kawalan disuntik dengan salin. Aktiviti lokomotor tikus juga ditentukan dalam ujian yang sama. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa kumpulan rawatan yang disuntik dengan 50 dan 100 mg/kg ekstrak P. glabra masing-masing tidak berupaya membezakan objek baru dengan objek biasa dalam fasa pemilihan dan tiada kesan ke atas aktiviti lokomotor dalam kedua-dua kajian. Didapati gangguan memori bekerja bukan ruang yang berlaku pada kedua-dua dos ekstrak ini bukan disebabkan oleh gangguan aktiviti lokomotor.

Kata kunci: Aktiviti lokomotif; ekstrak akues; memori bukan ruang; prismatomeris globra; ujian membezakan objek

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*Corresponding author; e-mail: azrina@pharmacy.ukm.my