Miroslav Eftimov

Memory Effects Of Aronia Melanocarpa Fruit Juice In A Passive Avoidance Test In Rats

ABSTRACT AIM: To study the effect of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice on memory in male Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The juice was administered orally for 7, 14, 21 and 30 days at doses of 2.5 ml/kg, 5 ml/kg and 10 ml/ kg. Memory was assessed in the one-way passive avoidance task (step through) which consisted of one training session and two retention tests (3 hours and 24 hours after training). The variables measured were the latency time to step into the dark compartment of the apparatus and the learning criterion (remaining in the illuminated compartment for at least 180 sec). RESULTS: Oral administration of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice for 7 and 14 days resulted in a dose-dependent tendency to increase the latency time and the learning criterion compared to saline-treated controls but the effect failed to reach statistical signifi cance. After 21 days of treatment, the juice dose-dependently prolonged the latency time at the retention tests, the effect being significant at doses of 5 ml/kg and 10 ml/kg. Applied for 30 days, the juice in all the tested doses increased signifi cantly the latency time at the retention tests and the dose of 10 ml/kg significantly increased the percentage of rats reaching the learning criterion. CONCLUSION: These fi ndings suggest that Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice could improve memory in rats. The effect is probably due to the polyphenolic ingredients of the juice which have been shown to be involved in learning and memory processes. РЕЗЮМЕ ЦЕЛЬ: Настоящая работа ставит себе целью исследовать эффект сока Aronia melanocarpa на память мужских крыс породы Wistar. МАТЕРИАЛЫ И МЕТОДЫ: Плодовый сок Aronia melanocarpa применен перорально в течение 7, 14, 21 и 30 дней в дозах 2.5 мл/кг, 5 мл/кг и 10 мл/кг. Память оценивали с помощью метода обучения однонаправленному пассивному избежанию - step through, состоящему из одной тренировочной сессии и двух тестов, предназначенных для определения памяти (3 часа и 24 часа после тренировки). Прослежены латентное время перехода в темное отделение аппарата и критерий обученности (оставание в освещенное отделение не менее 180 секунд). РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ: Применен в течение 7 и 14 дней сок Aronia melanocarpa вызывает доза-зависимую тенденцию к повышению латентного времени и критерия обученности по сравнению с контрольной группой крыс, получившей физиологический раствор, но эффект оказался статистически незначительным. После применения сока в течение 21 дня доза-зависимо удлиняет латентное время в тестах для определения памяти, при чем эффект статистически значим при дозах 5 мл/кг и 10 мл/кг. После 30-идневного применения все исследованные дозы сока значимо удлиняют латентное время в тестах для определения памяти, а доза 10 мл/кг значимо увеличивает и процент крыс, достигших критерия обученности. ЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЕ: Полученные авторами результаты показывают, что сок Aronia melanocarpa может улучшить память крыс. Этот эффект вероятно можно объяснить полифенольными составляющими сока, о которых доказано, что участвуют в процессах обучения и памяти.

Subchronic Toxicity Study of Aqueous Infusion from Cotinus coggygria Leaves in Wistar Rats

The Eurasian smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) is used by the Balkan folk medicine for its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties as well as for treatment of gingival and throat inflammations. Although C. coggygria has been applied mainly externally because of the large gallotannins content, there are few reports for internal use of its leaves against gastric ulcer, diarrhoea, nephritis, anthrax, asthma, cardiac and urinal diseases and even diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study is to examine the toxicity of C. coggygria leaves aqueous infusion in experimental animals. Male Wistar rats were treated by stomach gavage with different concentrations of herb infusion (1, 2 and 4%) or distilled water at doses of 10 ml/kg b.w. After 30 days of treatment, the animals were sacrificed and the blood and organs were collected for biochemical and histopathological analyses. Results showed that treatment with aqueous infusion from C. coggygria did not cause subchronic toxicity on liver and kidney. Histological investigation did not detect pathological deviations in the organs of treated groups compared with control. No significant changes were observed in the serum levels of hepatic enzymes, urea, creatinine, triacylglycerols and total The financial support from the Medical Science Fund of the Medical University of Varna is greatly acknowledged.