INTRODUCTION:

Memory is the ability of the human brain to recall past experiences to influence the current behavior^[1]. Recognition memory is the ability to recollect past occurred events, people or objects^[2]. Gaining knowledge and understanding by utilizing thought, senses and experiences is termed as cognition^[3]. Forgetfulness or loss of mental function is a common problem in the current scenario and leads to disturbances in day to day activities^[4]. Stress and fatigue leads to decline in memory^[5].

A recent study at Harvard medical school has shown that regularly used dietary supplements like saccharin and transfat was responsible for dementia in 5 % of the studied population^[6]. Turmeric is a dietary substance widely used in India as flavouring and colouring agent in curries^[7]. Literature survey indicates that curcumin present in turmeric is responsible for cognition enhancement ^[8]. Hence an attempt was made to compare the effect of regularly used dietary substances like saccharin, transfat and turmeric on recognition memory in albino mice by using Y maze memory model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

For the present investigation, the dietary food substances such as turmeric and transfat were procured from local super market. Saccharin (sodium saccharin) was procured from Sd-fine chemicals limited, Mumbai. Standard drug Donepezil was obtained as a gift sample from microlabs, Bengaluru, India. The doses of saccharin (100 mg/kg), turmeric (1 g/kg), transfat (2%) and donepezil (1 mg/kg) used for the present study were selected from the literature ^{[9], [10], [11], [12].}Stock solutions of saccharin and donepezil were prepared in distilled water, whereas the stock solutions of transfat and turmeric were prepared in 1% acacia suspension.

EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS:

Albino mice (20-25g) were used for the memory assessment model. They were procured form Sainath agencies, Musheerabad, Hyderabad (282/99/CPCSEA). After randomization into various groups and before initiation of experiment, the rats were acclimatized for a period of 10 days. Animals were housed in polypropylene cages and maintained under standard environmental conditions such as temperature (26±2°C), relative humidity (45-55%) and 12 hr. dark/light cycle. The animals were fed with mice/rodent pellet diet (Golden Mohur Lipton India Ltd) and water ad libtum. The study protocol was approved from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) before commencement of experiment (1292/ac/09/CPCSEA).

EFFECT OF DIETARY SUSBSTANCES ON RECOGNITION MEMORY IN ALBINO MICE:

Mice were treated for 30 days with Saccharin (100 mg/kg, p.o), Turmeric (1g/kg, p.o) and Transfat (2%, p.o) and standard cognitive enhancer Donepezil (1mg/kg). After 30 days of treatment, Y-Maze Test was carried out to study effect of the above dietary substances and donepezil on memory. The Y-Maze is a behavioral model used to evaluate memory function and the eagerness of mice to explore new environments. The Y-Maze is particularly useful in measuring cognitive deficits in mice, assessing hippocampal damage and evaluating the effects of drugs on cognition^[13]. The test apparatus used is a Y-shaped maze with three identical arms at a 120° angle from each other ^[14]. The animal is placed in the centre of the Y maze, and the total number of individual arm entries as well as the sequence of entries was recorded for 5 minutes^[15]. As mice typically prefer to explore a new arm of the maze rather than returning to one that was previously visited, the data is analyzed to determine the number of arm entries without repetition. Normal (control) animals will reflect a high rate of alternation which indicates that the animal can remember which arm was entered last. The results of the test performed were recorded and the following parameters like spontaneous alteration performance (SAP), alternate arm return (AAR) and same arm return (SAR) were determined for 5 minutes. Spontaneous alteration performance is the main criteria which tests spatial learning and memory. SAP is defined as the ability of the mouse to explore new arms repeatedly. The increase in SAP value than the control group indicates memory improvement. The decrease in SAP value than the control group indicates memory loss.

Fig: 1: Mouse placed in Y-Maze apparatus

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:

The values are represented as mean±S.E.M and statistical significance between treated and control groups was analyzed using One way ANOVA, followed by Dunnett’s test where **P<0.01 and *P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

From the results of Y-Maze memory model , it is evident that regularly used dietary supplements like saccharin and transfat has exhibited less spontaneous alteration performance (SAP) [saccharin (15±0.01) and transfat (14±1.21)] than that of control group mice (20±0.12) which indicates loss of memory function. However turmeric has shown SAP greater than (30±0.75) that of control group indicating memory enhancement. The results are tabulated in table 1 and represented in figure 2.

CONCLUSION:

By performing the above research, we conclude that certain regularly utilized dietary food substances like saccharin and transfat has a memory deteriorating effect found in mice whereas turmeric is found to have memory enhancing potential evaluated by Y-Maze test. Further neurochemical analysis and histopathology of brain tissues are required to establish the exact mechanism behind the nootropic potential of turmeric and amnesic effect of saccharin and transfat.

Table 1: Evaluation Of SAP, AAR And SAR In Control, Test And Donepezil Treated Mice Using Y-Maze Test

GROUP	SAP	AAR	SAR
1. Control	20±0.12	16±0.35	4±0.02
2. Saccharin (100 mg/kg, p.o)	15±0.01	20±1.28	4±0.11
3. Turmeric (1g/kg, p.o)	30±0.75**	14±0.17	2±0.15
4. Transfat (2%, p.o)	14±1.21*	16± 0.03	3±0.01
5. Donepezil (1 mg/kg p.o)	34±0.04**	13±1.11	2±0.15

Values are expressed in Mean±SEM and statistical significance between treated and control groups was analysed using one way ANOVA, followed by Dunnets test where **P<0.01 and *P<0.05 were considered stastically significiant.

Fig. 2: Graphical representation of effect of Dietary substances and Donepezil on spontaneous alteration performance (SAP) in Y-Maze test

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are grateful to the management of Vijaya College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad for providing the facilities for our research.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:

There are no conflicts of interest.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND SPONSORSHIP:

Nil.

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Received on 22.06.2018 Modified on 07.08.2018

Res. J. Pharmacology & Pharmacodynamics.2018; 10(4): 156-158.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5836.2018.00028.9

Influence of dietary substances on recognition memory in Albino mice