NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF PSIDIUM GUAJAVA (GUAVA) LEAF EXTRACTS ON CEREBRAL ISCHEMIC REPERFUSION INJURY INDUCED COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT RATS

Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of Psidium Guajava (PG) on bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) for 30 minutes, followed by 7 days reperfusion induced cognitive impairment in Wistar albino rats. Materials and methods: Cognitive function was assessed by the Morris water maze, Rectangular maze test and locomotor activity test. To study the activity, rats weighing 250-300g were pretreated with successive extracts of n-hexane fraction (HF), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), ethanol fraction (EF) and 50% hydro-ethanol fraction (HEF) of 400 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, p.o of each for 10 days and the treatment was continued for another 7 days after cerebral ischemia. Biochemical parameters of oxidative stress were estimated in the brain after the treatment. Results: There was significantly increased oxidative stress and cholinesterase activity with cognitive decline in the hippocampus in rats of BCCAO group as compared to normal group (p<0.05). The animals treated with Donepezil, HEF and EF of PG prevented the biochemical changes significantly (p