Nootropic Potential of Murraya koenigii leaves in Rats

SUMMARY Murraya koenigii leaves commonly known as ‘ curry patta ’ are routinely added to Indian gravy andvegetarian dishes by south Indian as a favourate condiment. The present study was undertaken toinvestigate the effects of Murraya koenigii leaves (MKL) on memory in rats. Elevated plus-maze andHebb-Williams maze served as the exteroceptive behavioral models for testing memory. Diazepam-,scopolamine- and ageing-induced amnesia served as the interoceptive behavioral models. MKL fedorally to various groups of young and aged rats with diet containing 2, 4 and 8% w/w of MKL for 30days consecutively were investigated. The MKL diets produced a significant dose-dependentimprovement in memory scores of young and aged rats and significantly reduced the amnesiainduced by scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Therefore, it would beworthwhile to specifically investigate the therapeutic potential of MKL in the management ofdementia patients.Key words: Amnesia; Memory; Murraya koenigii