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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article
Maze learning meets AI : smart analysis of memory enhancement in rodents using 8 ARM radial maze
Lowkika B, Roshini P. Charanya S, Jyothika M, Divya P, Chandana S, Eswar Tony D, Rama Rao Nadendla
Year : 2026 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 17-22
Received on: 11/10/2025
Revised on: 24/11/2025
Accepted on: 17/12/2025
Published on: 01/01/2026
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Lowkika B, Roshini P. Charanya S, Jyothika M, Divya P, Chandana S, Eswar Tony D, Rama Rao Nadendla( 2026).
Maze learning meets AI : smart analysis of memory enhancement in rodents using 8 ARM radial maze
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 11( 1), 17-22.
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Abstract
Memory and learning are crucial cognitive functions, often compromised in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and age-related cognitive decline. There is increasing interest in herbal nootropic agents due to their safety and reduced side-effect profile compared to synthetic drugs. Ocimum sanctum (Tulasi) and Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain) are two medicinal plants traditionally used in Ayurveda for their neuroprotective and adaptogenic properties. This study investigates the memory-enhancing effects of a combination of Ocimum sanctum and Trachyspermum ammi powders at two different concentrations (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg), compared with the standard nootropic drug Piracetam (1 mg/kg), using the 8-Arm Radial Maze model in mice. Male mice were randomly divided into four groups: Group A (Control, 0.9% saline), Group B (Piracetam 1 mg/kg), Group C (Test 1: 100 mg/kg of Tulasi-Ajwain combination in 1:1 ratio), and Group D (Test 2: 200 mg/kg of the same combination). Each group contained four animals (n = 4). The 8-Arm Radial Maze was used to assess spatial memory by recording the number of correct arm entries (out of 8) at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours post-administration. Higher numbers of correct entries indicate better memory performance. The control group (Group A) showed a gradual increase in correct entries over time, reaching an average of ~11 at 24 hours. Group B (Piracetam) consistently demonstrated improved performance, with an average of 15 correct entries at 24 hours, indicating strong nootropic activity. Test groups C and D, receiving the herbal combination at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg respectively, also showed significant improvement in correct entries over time. Group D (200 mg/kg) exhibited superior performance among the test groups, with correct entries reaching 12–17 by 24 hours, closely approaching Piracetam’s efficacy. Group C (100 mg/kg) showed moderate but consistent improvement, with 11–15 correct entries at 24 hours. These results suggest a dose-dependent enhancement of spatial memory by the herbal combinations. The present study demonstrates that the combination of Ocimum sanctum (Tulasi) and Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain) exerts significant memory-enhancing effects in mice, as evidenced by improved performance in the 8-Arm Radial Maze test. Both test doses (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) showed progressive enhancement in spatial memory, with the higher dose (200 mg/kg) producing results comparable to the standard nootropic drug Piracetam. These findings suggest a dose-dependent nootropic potential of the Tulasi–Ajwain combination, supporting its traditional use in cognitive enhancement and highlighting its promise as a safe, herbal alternative for managing cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders.
Keywords
Ocimum sanctum, Trachyspermum ammi, Nootropic, Memory enhancement, 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.
