The effect of Zizyphus jujube aqueous extract on learning, memory, locomotor activity and brain malondialdehyde level in rats with Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) as a progressive disorder caused by degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons leads to bradykinesia, tremor, and cognitive dysfunction. The administration of Z. jujuba in animal models of nervous system disorder had favorable effects on memory ability and oxidative stress biomarkers. Accordingly, we assessed the influence of Z. jujuba aqueous extract administration on learning, memory, locomotor activity and oxidative stress biomarker in rats with Parkinson’s disease.

In this study forty adult Wistar rats allocated into four groups were sham group, untreated Parkinson study group and two groups treated with aqueous extract of Z. jujube at two different concentrations of 500 and 1000 mg/kg/days. PD induction was done by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Rotations activity was assessed by injection of apomorphine. Morris water maze was utilized to evaluate spatial learning and memory. Also, oxidative stress was evaluated by malondialdehyde (MDA) biomarker.

Our data showed that the 6-OHDA-induced PD led to the learning, memory and rotations activity dysfunctions. Administration of 1000 mg/kg of Z. jujube improved the learning and memory (P<0.0001). In addition, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of Z. jujube decreased the apomorphine-induced rotations (P<0.0001). Also, Z. jujube decreased malondialdehyde level in midbrain and hippocampus (P<0.05).

aqueous extract of Z. jujube administrated by the animal model of PD can has favorable potentials on memory, learning, apomorphine-induced rotations and brain malondialdehyde level.