Saraswata Churna Enhances Learning and Memory in the Pilocarpine-Induced Rat Model of Epilepsy

Abstract

TLE, or temporal lobe epilepsy, is one of the most drug-resistant seizure disorders, accounting for around 70% of TLE patients. Memory impairment is one of the most symptoms associated with status epilepticus. Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, in particular, are prone to cognitive impairments (TLE). This cognitive decline may be linked to the development of localised brain lesions, particularly in the hippocampus and cortex, according to findings. We created pilocarpine-induced chronic epileptic rats to mimic epilepsy-related cognitive loss in an animal model of epilepsy. We offer a procedure for two behavioral tests utilizing epileptic rats: the Morris Water Maze Test (MWMT) and the Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT) to evaluate memory and learning for places, objects, and navigation respectively.

Saraswata Churna (SC), an ayurvedic preparation has been used in many cases of neurological disorders. Some of the therapeutic uses include nourishing, improving, and stimulating the nervous system, as well as loss of memory, manic episodes, seizure disorders, Vascular dementia, defeatist mentality, anxious strain, and palsy, to name a few. However, as we discovered during our literature search, these therapeutic uses have not been scientifically explored. As a result, we postulated that SC is a potential neuroprotective drug that could aid learning and memory in the pilocarpine-induced epileptic rat model.

Aims: The current study investigated whether Saraswata Churna (SC), an ayurvedic medicine, acts as a neuroprotective agent, lowering the hippocampal damage and, as a result, increasing learning and memory function.

Methods: The current study looked at the therapeutic benefits of SC on memory and learning in a pilocarpine-induced epilepsy rat model, using a normal control (NC) group, Pilocarpine (PI) Group, Phenytoin (PHE) treated group and Saraswata Churna (SC) treated group. To study the therapeutic benefits of SC in boosting learning and memory, a lithium-pilocarpine induced rat model of TLE was created.

Results: Our findings showed that epilepsy-induced rats had cognitive abnormalities due to hippocampal lesions, focal brain lesions, particularly in the hippocampal and cortical areas in the SE rat model, which resulted in significant learning and memory impairment. By treating hippocampal cell injuries and avoiding neuronal cell loss, preventive treatment with SC decreased learning and memory deficits.