Afghan Chehelghoza (Pinus gerardiana L.) Pine Nut Diet Enhances the Learning and Memory in Male Rats

Abstract

Purpose:

The aim of this study is the evaluation of the effect of Afghan Chehelghoza as a constituent of diet on behavioral parameters, especially learning and memory of male rats.

Methods:

Rats were divided into six groups: control group, diazepam group as the positive control, and 2, 6, 12 and 25% chehelghoza-treated groups, which received chehelghoza combined with their food for 28 days. After treatment, the rat’s behavior was evaluated by Y-maze, elevated plus maze, Morris water maze and radial arm maze. In addition, their brain was extracted and weighed. The body weight of rats was also measured during the study.

Results:

The results showed that the time spent in target quadrant and brain weight were increased in 12 and 25% chehelghoza-treated groups significantly (P<0.05). Also, the difference between the percentage of spontaneous alternation and the number of crossing, percentage of time spent in and the number of entries into open arms of only 25% chehelghoza-treated and the control groups was significant. Besides, on day 28, the body weight of all chehelghoza-treated groups was diminished as compared with the control group.

Conclusion:

We can conclude that chehelghoza combination with food in high doses can improve the spatial working memory and reference memory, increase the brain weight, as well as reduction in anxiety behavior.

Keywords:

• anxiety
• learning
• memory
• Chehelghoza
• rat

Abbreviations

EPM, elevated plus maze; LTP, long-term potentiation; MWM, Morris water maze; MUFA, monounsaturated fatty acid; NIH, National Institute of Health; PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acid; RAM, radial arm maze; RME, reference memory errors; WME, working memory errors; %SA, the percentage of spontaneous alternation.

Ethics Approval

This study was conducted on the ethical guidelines set by the eighth edition of the National Institute of Health (NIH) guide for the care and use of laboratory animals. The ethic research board of Khatam Al-Nabieen University approved the experimental protocol (Approval No. AF.KNU.REB.1397.16).

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by research and technology center of Khatam Al-Nabieen university (KNURTC), Kabul, Afghanistan. We thank all officials for their valuable support for providing the experiment and facilities for this study. We also thank Ms Ganjina Gawhar Yousofi, Ms Banafsha Zainal Bayat and Mr Khalil Ebrahimi for their collaboration in data acquisition. We especially thank the faculty of pharmacy and faculty of science of Kabul university.

Author contributions

All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, have agreed on the journal to which the article will be submitted, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.