Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Bābul (Apr 2015)

Determining the Antioxidant Properties of Chamomile and Investigating the ‎Effects of Chamomile Ethanol Extract on Motor Coordination Disorders in Rats ‎

  • Z Rabiei,
  • Z Alibabaei,
  • M Rafieian-kopaei

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 4
pp. 50 – 44

Abstract

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer’s, a progressive disorder causing the memory and other crucial functions of the brain to deteriorate, is mainly responsible for Dementia (brain deterioration). Most of the available drugs exert little influence on this brain disorder. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and its ethanol extract on the balance and motor learning of healthy rats and rats receiving Scopolamine. METHODS: In this experimental study, 42 male Wister rats were divided into 6 groups of 7. They received one milligram of Scopolamine per kilogram of their body weight. The control group received distilled water. Simultaneously, the Amnesiac groups received 200 to 500 milligrams of Chamomile extract in addition to Scopolamine for 20 days. The healthy group only received the extract. The rats’ motor balance was measured using the Rotarod device. FINDINGS: In comparison with the control group, Scopolamine significantly reduced the time of resistance and staying on the Rotarod rolling stock (p=0/0005). The resistance time and staying time on the Rotarod rolling stock in the control group and the Scopolamine group were 169/51 and 46/33 seconds, respectively. The time of resistance and staying in the Scopolamine group receiving 200 milligrams of the Chamomile extract was 119/5 seconds which shows a significant increase compared to the Scopolamine-only group (p=0/044). Compared to the Scopolamine group receiving the same dose, 200 to 500 milligrams of the extract in healthy rats noticeably increased the time of resistance and staying on the rolling stock (168/3 and 263 seconds, respectively) (p=0/000, p=0/000). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that with its antioxidant properties, Chamomile extract could probably enhance motor balance in Scopolamine receiving rats.

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