Evaluation of cognitive enhancing activity of Mimusops elengi Linn on albino rats.

In the present study, flowers of Mimusops elengi Linn (Sapotacae) commonly known as Bakul was selected for preliminary phytochemical investigation and pharmacological screening of cognitive enhancing activity. The shade dried flowers were subj ected to successive solvent extraction with 70 % ethanol. The extracts revealed the presence of carbohydrates, steroids, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids and alkaloids when subjected to chemical tests. TLC was run for their confirmation of terpen oids in Mimusops elengi Linn and then subjected to isolation by preparative TLC method and analyzed by UV, FTIR and HPTLC. In the pharmacological screening, the alcoholic extract was used for the evaluation of cognitive enhancing activity using elevated pl us maza & passive avoidance task method with Mentat as Standard by using parameters of step down and transfer latency. Induction was carried out by MES and scopolamine for 7 days. On 7 th day the brain was isolated for evaluation of acetylcholinesterase enz yme activity. The alcoholic extracts (200mg/kg.B.W) showed significant effect when compare to control, there was significant increase in step down latency and decrease in the of transfers latency and also decrease in acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity bu t was not as effective as that of standard drug. Hence it can by conclude that the flowers of Mimusops elengi Linn contain triterpenoid and hence possess significant cognitive enhancing activity.