Effect of Punica granatum peel extract on learning and memory in rats

ObjectiveTo evaluate potential memory enhancing effect of Punica granatum peel extract on rats.MethodsHealthy adult male albino rats of Wistar strain were used. Each group of 6 rats were administered either distilled water or 50 mg/kg of extract or 100 mg/kg of extract for 15 days and subjected to passive avoidance test or T-maze test. In the next phase rats were administered distilled water or 100 mg/kg of extract for 15 days and the rats were given injection diazepam before subjecting them to the tests.ResultsThe overall performance was better in test groups compared to control groups. Among the test groups, 100 mg/kg rats performed better than 50 mg/kg. The effect on spatial learning parameters like mean number of alternations and mean percentage bias was more marked compared to retention testing parameters like latency. 100 mg/kg Punica extract treated group also improved performance of diazepam treated rats.ConclusionsThere is a definite trend of memory improvement by Punica granatum peel with effects being more marked on spatial learning tendency and long term memory than on retention capacity.