Protective effect of Heracleum persicum alcoholic extract against diazinon-induced spatial memory impairment of rat

Summary Diazinon is one the most widely used organophosphorous insecticides in agricultural pest control. This insecticide can cause toxic effects in mammals including memory impairment. As some medicinal plants like Heracleum persicum contains antioxidant features and influences learning activities and memory, so can be used for protection in poisonings. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Heracleum persicum extract on diazinon-indu ced spatial memory impairment in rat. Male rats were divided into five groups randomly including a control group, a group receiving corn oil as diazinon solvent, and three experimental groups. Two of three experimental groups received different doses of Heracleum persicum (50,150 mg/kg) as pre-treatment for 20 days along with diazinon (100 mg/kg) that injected intraperitoneally in last day of Heracleum persicum usage, and one group received only diazinon (100 mg/kg). Spatial memories of rats were studied by using Morris water maze technique. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Tukey’s and Bonferroni test. The results showed that Heracleum persicum has protective effect on diazinon-induced impairment in spatial memory of rat and improves the oxidative stress caused by this pesticide.