456 research outputs found
An Englishman in Paris : A Study of Katherine Mansfield's Construction of Englishness in Je Ne Parle Pas Français
No full textThe author discusses the construction of Englishness in Katherine Mansfield’s short story Je Ne Parle Pas Français using previous accounts for Englishness, Otherness and the context of modernism –primarily featuring imperialism. The author concludes that there is an English identity portrayed in Je Ne Parle Pas Français, but that it is to a greater extent associated with imperialism than other identifiable cultural traits
An Englishman in Paris : A Study of Katherine Mansfield's Construction of Englishness in Je Ne Parle Pas Français
No full textThe author discusses the construction of Englishness in Katherine Mansfield’s short story Je Ne Parle Pas Français using previous accounts for Englishness, Otherness and the context of modernism –primarily featuring imperialism. The author concludes that there is an English identity portrayed in Je Ne Parle Pas Français, but that it is to a greater extent associated with imperialism than other identifiable cultural traits
Evaluación de los efectos antiamnésicos de Phyllanthus amarus en ratones
No full textAlzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder
characterized by a gradual decline in memory. Phyllanhus amarus is
commonly known as bhumi amla in India and is traditionally used since
centuries in ayurveda medicine. The present study was undertaken to
investigate the effects of Phyllanhus amarus (PA) on cognitive
functions and brain cholinesterase activity in mice. Elevated plus maze
and passive avoidance paradigm were employed to evaluate learning and
memory parameters. Three doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) of aqueous
extract of PA were administered for 8 successive days to both young and
aged mice. PA (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent
improvement in memory scores of young and older mice. PA also reversed
successfully the amnesia induced by scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) and
diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Interestingly, brain acetyl cholinesterase
activity was also reduced. The underlying mechanism of action for the
observed nootropic effect may be attributed to pro-cholinergic activity
exhibited by PA in the present study. Therefore, it would be worthwhile
to explore the therapeutic potential of PA in the management of
patients with cognitive disorders.La enfermedad de Alzheimer es un desorden neuro-degenerativo progresivo
que se caracteriza por una disminución gradual de la memoria. El
Phyllanhus amarus (PA), se conoce comúnmente como bhumi amla en la
India, y tradicionalmente se ha usado durante siglos en la medicina
ayurvédica con diversas indicaciones. Este estudio se hizo para
investigar los efectos del PA en las funciones cognitivas y en la
actividad de la colinesterasa cerebral. Se emplearon las pruebas de
laberinto complejo y el paradigma de evitación pasiva a fin de
evaluar los parámetros de memoria y aprendizaje. Se administraron
tres dosis (50, 100 y 200 mg/kg vía oral) de extracto acuoso de PA
durante 8 días sucesivos, tanto a ratones jóvenes como
adultos. El PA (50, 100 y 200 mg/kg) produjo una mejoría que
depende de la dosis en los puntajes de memoria en los ratones
jóvenes y en los adultos. EL PA también revirtió con
éxito la amnesia inducida por escopolamina (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) y
diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Es de interés anotar que asimismo
disminuyó la actividad de la acetil colinesterasa cerebral. El
mecanismo de acción subyacente para el efecto nootrópico
observado se puede atribuir a la actividad pro-colinesterasa demostrada
en el presente estudio. Por tanto, se justificaría explorar el
potencial terapéutico del PA en el manejo de pacientes con
desórdenes cognitivos
<i>Zingiber officinale</i>: evaulation of its Nootropic effect in mice
No full textDementia is one of the age-related mental problems, and a characteristic symptom of Alzheimer\'s disease. Nootropic agents and cholinesterase inhibitors like donepezil® are clinically used in situations where there is organic disorder in learning abilities and for improving memory, mood and behavior, but the resulting side-effects associated with these agents have made their utility limited. Ayurveda emphasizes use of herbs, nutraceuticals or life-style changes for controlling age related neurodegenerative disorders. The present study was undertaken to assess the potential of an ayurvedic rasayana (rejuvenator) drug Zingiber officinale Roscoe as a memory enhancer. Elevated plus maze and passive avoidance paradigm were employed to evaluate learning and memory parameters. Z. officinale extract (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered for 8 successive days to both young and aged mice. The dose of 100 mg/kg of Z. officinale extract significantly improved learning and memory in young mice and also reversed the amnesia induced by diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.), and scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.). Furthermore, it also reversed aging induced amnesia due to natural aging of mice. Z. officinale significantly increased whole brain acetyl cholinesterase inhibition activity. Hence, Z. officinale might prove to be a useful memory restorative agent in the treatment of dementia seen in the elderly. The underlying mechanism of its action may be attributed to its antioxidant and acetyl cholinesterase inhibition property.
Keywords: Zingiber officinale, amnesia, learning, memoryAfrican Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Vol. 3(1) 2006: 64-7
Effect of Anwala Churna (Emblica officinalis GAERTN.): an Ayurvedic Preparation on Memory Deficit Rats
No full textMemory-enhancing activity of Thespesia populnea in rats
No full textThespesia populnea Soland ex. Correa (Malvaceae) is a large tree found in the tropical regions and coastal forests of India. Various parts of Thespesia populnea are found to possess useful medicinal properties such as antifertility, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, purgative, and hepatoprotective activities. The current study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Thespesia popul-nea bark on memory in rats. Elevated plus-maze and Hebb-Williams maze served as the exteroceptive behavioral models for testing memory. Diazepam-, scopolamine-, and ageing-induced amnesia served as the interoceptive behavioral models. The ethanol extract of Thespesia populnea (TPE) was administered orally in three doses (100, 200, and 400mg=kg) for 7 successive days to different groups of young and aged rats. TPE (200 and 400mg=kg, p.o.) resulted in significant improvement in memory of young and aged rats. TPE also reversed the amnesia induced by scopolamine (0.4mg=kg, i.p.) and diazepam (1mg=kg, i.p.). Choles-terol-lowering, anticholinesterase, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of Thespesia populnea may favorably contribute to its memory-enhancement effect. Therefore, Thespesia populnea bark appears to be a promising candidate for improving memory, and it would be worthwhile to explore the potential of this plant in the management of Alzheimer patients
Evaluation of nootropic potential of <i style="">Ocimum sanctum </i>Linn. in mice<i style=""></i>
No full text133-136Dementia is one of the age related mental
problems and a characteristic symptom of various neurodegenerative disorders
including Alzheimer’s disease. Certain drugs like diazepam, barbiturates and
alcohol disrupt learning and memory in animals and man. However, a new class of
drugs known as nootropic agents is now used in situations where there is
organic disorder in learning abilities. The present work was undertaken to
assess the potential of O. sanctum
extract as a nootropic and anti-amnesic agent in mice. Aqueous extract of dried
whole plant of O. sanctum ameliorated
the amnesic effect of scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg), diazepam (1 mg/kg) and aging
induced memory deficits in mice. Elevated plus maze and passive avoidance
paradigm served as the exteroceptive behavioral models. O. sanctum extract decreased transfer latency and increased step
down latency, when compared to control (piracetam treated), scopolamine and
aged groups of mice significantly. O.
sanctum preparations could of beneficial in the treatment of cognitive
disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Dementia: An Overview
No full textDementia is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive and continuous loss of cognitive functions. The neuropsychiatric symptoms include apathy; agitation and depression. As the disorder progresses, the patient gradually becomes dependent on others to perform routine daily activities. Various underlying diseases or disorders are the root cause of the syndrome of dementia. Each of these disorder or disease is characterized by a specific signs and symptoms in combination with a presumed underlying neuropathology. Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent cause of dementia. The second most prevalent cause is vascular dementia. In this review, the clinical types, pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy is summarized
Nootropic Activity of Calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn
No full textNootropic acitivity of calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. was studied
in mice. Elevated plus maze and passive avoidance paradigm were
employed to evaluate learning and memory parameters. Scopolamine (0.4
mg/kg, i.p.) was used to induce amnesia in mice. The aqueous extracts
of calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS-100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.)
significantly attenuated amnestic deficits induced by scopolamine (0.4
mg/kg, i.p.) and natural aging. HS (100 and 200 mg/kg) decreased the
transfer latencies and increased step down latencies significantly in
the aged mice and scopolamine induced amnesic mice as compared with
Piracetam (200 mg/kg, i.p.). To delineate the possible mechanism
through which H. sabdariffa elicits the anti-amnesic effects, we
studied its influence on central cholinergic activity by estimating the
whole brain acetylcholinesterase activity. H. sabdariffa significantly
decreased acetyl cholinesterase activity in mice. The results indicate
that, the aqueous extract of calyces of H. sabdariffa might prove to be
a useful memory restorative agent in the treatment of dementia seen in
elderly. The underlying mechanism of action can be attributed to its
anti acetylcholinesterase property
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