Authors
Abstract
Background: Increasing evidence has shown that diabetes induced cognitive dysfunction and impairs learning and memory. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid, and has multiple pharmacological effects , including anti-diabetic and antioxidant activity could improve learning and spatial memory impairment in STZ-induced diabetes in rats. Material and Methods: The male wistar rats (n= 40) were randomly allocated and similarly grouped: Control, berberine-treated non-diabetic (100 mg/ kg), diabetic, berberine- treated diabetic (50, 100 mg/ kg) groups. Diabetes was induced by STZ administration at the dose of 55 mg/ kg through i.p. route. Berberine hydrochloride was administered p.o. at doses of 50 and 100 mg/ kg/ day 1 week after STZ injection for a period of 6 weeks. Blood samples were taken from the tail vein 1, 3, 5, 7 weeks after STZ injection to measure blood glucose levels. Behavioral tests including spatial recognition and objective recognition were performed at the end of study as described below. Results: Berberine- treated diabetic groups (50, 100 mg/ kg/ day) dose dependently has significant differences with diabetic group in spatial recognition and objective recognition tests including number of entrance to new arms and also number of rearing to new arms Y maze. Moreover, with respect to the diabetic group, objective recognition test number increased in berberine treated diabetic group (50, 100 mg/ kg) but not significantly. Conclusion: Berberine hydrochloride administration for 6 weeks improves cognitive dysfuntion in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats.
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