Neuroprotective Effect of Moringa oleifera in Scopolamine Induced Cognitive Impairment and Oxidative Stress in Wistar Albino Rats

The present study was to evaluate the anti - dementic effect of Moringa oleifera on scopolamine induced male Wistar albino rats. Animals were grouped into normal control, scopolamine control, moringa control, moringa + scopolamine, donepezil control, donepezil + scopolamine. Dementia was induced in rats by administration of scopolamine (1 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera was fed to the rats at a dosage of 2500 mg per kilogram body weight of the animal for a period of 15 days. Donepezil was used as a standared nootropic agent. Learning and memory parameters were evaluated using the classical T-maze test. Biochemical estimations of acetycholinesterase, malondialdehyde, glutathione-S-transferase and superoxidedismutase were performed to estimate the level of cholinergic status, lipid peroxidation and degree of oxidative stress. It was observed that aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera had a significant role in the management of dementia. There was a significant difference between the control and moringa treated group in this study.