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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article
Assessment of learning and memory enhancement by herbal extract using rectangular maze paradigm in rodent models
D. Sravani, K. Gayathri Venkata Naga Rani, P. Lakshmi Neeraja, P. Neha Lakshmi, Sk. Fazal, D. Eswar Tony, Prof Rama Rao Nadendla
Year : 2026 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 54-60
Received on: 25/12/2025
Revised on: 10/01/2026
Accepted on: 13/02/2026
Published on: 01/03/2026
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D. Sravani, K. Gayathri Venkata Naga Rani, P. Lakshmi Neeraja, P. Neha Lakshmi, Sk. Fazal, D. Eswar Tony, Prof Rama Rao Nadendla( 2026).
Assessment of learning and memory enhancement by herbal extract using rectangular maze paradigm in rodent models
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 11( 2), 54-60.
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Abstract
Memory impairment is a progressive neurocognitive condition characterized by a decline in learning, retention, and recall abilities, often associated with aging and neurodegenerative disorders. Existing synthetic nootropics such as piracetam show efficacy but are limited by adverse effects and cost, highlighting the need for safer alternatives. Medicinal plants like Salvia officinalis and Centella asiatica possess bioactive constituents such as eugenol and thymol with known neuroprotective, antioxidant, and cholinergic-modulating properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the memory enhancing potential of a polyherbal formulation combining S. officinalis and C. asiatica using the rectangular maze model in mice. Swiss albino mice (25–30 g) were divided into four groups (n = 6 each). Group I served as the normal control (0.9% w/v normal saline), Group II received the standard drug piracetam (150 mg/kg), and Groups III and IV received the test formulations (polyherbal powder of S. officinalis + C. asiatica in a 50:50 ratio) at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses, respectively. The rectangular maze apparatus was used to assess learning and memory based on latency time the duration taken by each mouse to travel from the start box to the goal box. Trials were conducted at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours after administration. Control animals exhibited the highest latency (63.75 ± 1.50 s at 2 h), while the standard piracetam group showed a significant reduction in latency time (47.50 ± 2.08 s). Both test groups demonstrated a dose-dependent improvement, with Group III (100 mg/kg) showing moderate reduction (52.00 ± 1.63 s) and Group IV (200 mg/kg) exhibiting further decline (53.25 ± 1.26 s initially, reduced to 41.75 ± 1.71 s at 24 h). The decreasing latency across successive trials indicates enhanced learning and retention. These findings suggest that the polyherbal formulation improves spatial memory comparable to the standard drug. The combination of Salvia officinalis and Centella asiatica significantly enhanced learning and memory in mice, as evidenced by reduced latency time in the rectangular maze paradigm. The observed effects may be attributed to the synergistic antioxidant, cholinergic, and neuroprotective actions of the phytoconstituents. This study supports the potential of the polyherbal formulation as a promising natural alternative for cognitive enhancement and management of memory impairments.
Keywords
Salvia officinalis, Centella asiatica, Rectangular Maze, Memory enhancing activity, Spatial memory.
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© The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
