The Effect of Cyperus Rotundus Ethanolic Extract on Motor Coordination in a Rat Model of Alzheimer

Background and Objective: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative disorder that leads to progressive cognitive decline. The memory dysfunction of AD has been associated with a cortical cholinergic deficiency and loss of cholinergic neurons of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM). This study investigated the effect of ethanolic extract of Cyperus rotundu tubers (CRT) on motor activity in NBM-lesioned rat model of AD and intact rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study ۴۹ Wistar rats were divided into ۷ groups. For this purpose, Wistar rats received bilateral electric lesions of the NBM. The control and sham groups received distilled water while NBM-lesioned group received CRT extract for ۲۰ days with doses of ۱۰۰ and ۲۰۰ mg/kg. Intact rats received CRT extract for ۲۰ days without any surgery. The motor activity was assessed with Rotarod apparatus. Data were analyzed using one- way Anova and LSD test. Results: Use of ethanolic extract of CRT for ۲۰ days improved motor activity in NBM-lesioned rats that received extract with a dose of ۱۰۰ mg/kg. Ethanolic extract of CRT in the intact rats for ۲۰ days significantly reduced motor activity when compared with the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that ethanolic extract of CRT is useful in NBM-induced lesion rats via inducing some changes in acetylcholine levels in the brain.

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Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease , Cyperus rotundu tubers , Motor coordination , Ethanolic extract , Rat