Nootropic activity

Background: Memory and cognitive decline represent hallmark manifestations of Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative conditions. Current pharmacological management relies predominantly on synthetic cognitive enhancers and cholinesterase inhibitors, whose long-term administration raises concerns regarding tolerability, systemic toxicity, and patient adherence. Consequently, attention has shifted toward plant-derived therapies — particularly those rich in neuroprotective and antioxidant constituents — as more sustainable and well-tolerated options for maintaining brain health. Annona reticulata, a member of the Annonaceae family, has attracted scientific interest owing to its phytochemical complexity and historically documented medicinal applications. Objective: The present investigation aimed to evaluate the cognitive-enhancing potential of the hydroalcoholic fruit extract of Annona reticulata in a scopolamine-induced murine model of cholinergic cognitive impairment. Methods: A total of thirty-six male Wistar mice were randomly allocated into six experimental groups, each comprising six animals. Group I served as the vehicle-treated normal control, while Group II received the reference nootropic, piracetam (400 mg/kg, per oral), administered daily for six consecutive days. Cholinergic cognitive impairment was established in Group III through intraperitoneal administration of scopolamine (1 mg/kg). Groups IV, V, and VI were co-administered scopolamine alongside graded doses of the hydroalcoholic fruit extract at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg orally, respectively. Spatial learning and memory were evaluated employing the Morris Water Maze paradigm over six days. Following behavioural assessment, hippocampal tissues were harvested and processed for histopathological examination. Data were statistically analysed using one-way and two-way ANOVA, and values were reported as mean ± SEM. Results: Hydroalcoholic fruit extract of Annona reticulata elicited a statistically significant and dose-related amelioration of spatial learning and memory deficits in scopolamine-challenged animals. Extract-treated groups exhibited progressive reductions in escape latency and augmented target quadrant occupancy across training days. At the highest tested dose (400 mg/kg), cognitive performance closely approached that observed in the piracetam reference group, underscoring the extract's potent nootropic efficacy. Conclusion: Collectively, these findings indicate that Annona reticulata fruit extract harbours appreciable cognitive-enhancing and neuroprotective capabilities. The extract warrants further mechanistic and translational investigation to delineate its precise mode of action and validate its therapeutic applicability in cognitive dysfunction disorders.

Nootropic drugs used as a memory enhancer can improve thinking, memory, and alertness in people with Alzheimer’s disease and other disease that affect the mind. Memory is perhaps the most vital of all aspects that differentiates human beings from other animals. However, memory can become faulty due to several reasons, and in that case the person is not able to make full use of his or her potentials. Since ages, drugs and natural remedies have been prescribed to enhance memories in people. 4 million people are thought to be suffering from age related memory and increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The present study investigate the nootropic activity of poly herbal methanolic extraction (Rhodiola Rodantha Root, Blepharis Maedeterpensis Root, Celastrus Paniculatus Plant seed, Brassica Caulorapa  Bud) by using Active avoidance paradigm, Passive avoidance paradigm, Scopolamine-induced amnesia,  Sodium nitrite intoxication method to assess the nootropic activity.