Evaluation of Memory Enhancing Activity of Agaricus Bisporus in Swiss Albino Mice

There has been growing interest in the alternative medicine and the therapeutic properties of the natural products derived from plants in the recent years. Alzheimer’s disease is a genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder, which is slow in onset but relentless in progress. It is characterized by aphasia, apraxia and agnosia with the loss of memory as the main symptom. Despite the severity and prevalence of this disease, allopathic system of medicine is yet to provide a satisfactory drug. Therefore, we were motivated to explore the potential of medicinal plants to manage this deadly disease. Agaricus bisporus is traditionally used as edible mushroom in food. This fungus has been scientifically studied for anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and antidiabetic properties. Ethanolic extract of Agaricus bisporus was subjected to qualitative phytochemical tests for different phytochemical constituents. From the phytochemical analysis, the extract shown the presence of carbohydrates, phytosterols, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, protein and amino acids and these constituents present in this extract may contributing to the memory enhancement effect. Flavonoids has been shown to improve memory in mice. As far as with above data the present work was carried out to study the memory enhancing activity of Agaricus bisporus. In the present study Agaricus bisporus extract was administered orally to improve learning and memory of mice. This extract has shown to be nontoxic upto 2000mg/kg body weight of animal. Diazepam produces memory loss in brain cell of mice by increasing the GABAergic inhibitory facilitation and or by causing oxidative stress by releasing free radicals in the brain cavity. GSH plays an essential role in protecting brain from free radical release by neutralizing these free radicals. The damage by free radicals to brain tissue is associated with neurodegenerative disorders. The potential effect of EEAB in enhancing the brain memory in terms of increasing ACh by inhibiting the AChE enzyme, which helps in enhancing the cholinergic transmission and improving the nootropic effect. The effect may also responsible for its antioxidant property of Agaricus bisporus because of this extract comprising of essential phytoconstituents like phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which inhibit lipid peroxidation. Since diazepam induced amnesia was reversed by Agaricus bisporus, it is possible that the beneficial effect on learning and memory was due to facilitation of cholinergic transmission in mice brain. Both elevated plus maze and rectangular maze were employed as behavioural models for evaluation of learning and memory. In the present investigation, Agaricus bisporus has shown promising effect as a memory enhancing agent in these laboratory models employed. Agaricus bisporus improved diazepam induced memory impairment and attributed to an improvement in AchE inhibition and behavioural properties. A great deal of research has been done regarding AChEIs as a therapeutic drug for the treatment of memory disorders. Further study is required to approach the new insight for the possible mechanism of action. This study and its effective results may help them for find out a new active compound against adverse conditions such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Further phytochemical and pharmacological studies has to be progressed to elucidate in detail the active principle and real mechanism of action of Agaricus bisporus