Effects of Intracerebroventricular Injection of Alcoholic Extract of hawthorn (Crataegus melano carpa) Leaves on Fear Behavior in Presence Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in Adult Male Rat

Abstract

Background: In traditional medicine "Crataegus melanocarpa" is one of the medicinal plants that has many therapeutic effects. One of them is its effect on nerveous system. Objective: Evaluation of Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of alcoholic extract of "crataegus melanocarpa" leaves on fear behavior in presence pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in adult male rat. Methods: Animals were divided into 3 groups: experimental, saline and, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) 20mg/kg as positive control (I.P). In the experimental group, the animals received 4000 μg/Rat alcoholic extract of "Crataegus melanocarpa" leaves (ICV) and PTZ (I.P). Then plus maze was used for evaluation of the fear. Open arm entries percentage (%OAE) and open arm time percentage (%OAT) were evaluated. Results: The results show that intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of alcoholic extract of "Crataegus melanocarpa" leaves increased %OAE and %OAT significantly (p<0.05). Conclusion: We concluded that alcoholic extract of "Crataegus melanocarpa" is effective on fear reduction in presence pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in adult male rat.

Keywords

• crataegus melanocarpa
• pentylenetetrazole
• memory and learning
• fear