COMPARATIVE STUDY OF POLYHERBAL COMBINATIONS ON OXIDATIVE STERSS ASSOCIATED DEMENTIA

The term dementia refers to a severe loss of thinking abilities; especially memory. The most common kind of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Bacopa monnieri and Withania somnifera are the most potent herbs for the treatment of loss of memory. Piper nigrum Linn. is essential ingredients of numerous prescriptions and formulations. It is reported that Black pepper increases the blood levels of drugs more than 100%. In this study, alcoholic extract of B. monnieri, methanolic extract of W. somnifera and powder of Piper nigrum and their combinations were subjected to young mice. Elevated plus Maze and Passive Avoidance apparatus served for the exteroceptive behavioural model for testing memory. Piracetam was taken as standard drug and Scopolamine was used to induce amnesia. In-vitro antioxidant activity was carried out by using DPPH free radical scavenging model and Gallic acid as standard drug. This study demonstrates that Alcoholic extract of Bacopa monnieri alone and Alcoholic extract of B. monnieri in combination with methanolic extract of Withania somnifera and powder of Piper nigrum diminishes neuronal death induced by AChE activity. Alcoholic extract of Bacopa monnieri also exhibited in-vitro antioxidant properties.