Nootropic activity of ethanolic extract of Triticum aestivum in acute and chronic stress induced Wistar albino rats

Objectives- The present study was designed to evaluate the nootropic activity of ethanolic extract of Triticum aestivum (TAE) on stressed wistar albino rats. Materials and methods- Effect of TAE was studied on acute restraint stress and chronic unpredictable stress induced rats. Chronic unpredictable stress was given for 10days. The reference standard drug (Piracetam-200mg/kg) and the test drug, TAE at doses of 150mg/kg and 200mg/kg b.w. were given to rats for 14 days. Learning and memory was assessed by using Elevated plus maze test. Animals sacrificed at the end of this experiment, the body weight adrenal and spleen weight, ulcer index as well as various biochemical parameters like malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were assessed. Results- Both acute as well as chronic stress induced a significant prolongation of learning time, whereas only with chronic unpredictable stress the memory or retention time was longer than that of the non-stressed control rats. Piracetam and TAE treated rats showed a significant reduction in acquisition and retention time in stress induced rats. Also, the stress induced ulcer scores were significantly reduced. The effects were comparable to normal control rats.&nbsp