Effects of asiatic acid on passive and active avoidance task in male Spraque-Dawley rats

Centella asiatica has a reputation to restore declining cognitive function in traditional medicine. To date, only a few compounds that show enhancing learning and memory properties are available. Therefore, the present study investigates the effects of for acute administration of asiatic acid (A-A) isolated from Centella asiatica administration on memory and learning in male Spraque-Dawley rats.

4-5 weeks Spraque-Dawley rats were administered with concentration 1, 3, 5, 10, 30 mg/kg of A-A, baclofen, scopolamine and saline intra peritoneally and were evaluated for passive avoidance (PA), active avoidance (AA) and changes in blood pressure (BP).

Treatment 30 mg/kg of A-A resulted in significantly dose-dependently improved memory, with increased retention latency to enter difference compartment in PA test compared to baclofen, saline and scopolamine. Furthermore, 30 mg/kg of A-A was significantly higher on learning abilities on 1st day but there was no significantly difference on avoidance memory ability after 7 days of retention. Low reading in blood pressure dose-dependent significantly difference was observed in the 30 mg/kg of A-A group compared to saline group.

Administration A-A facilitated PA and AA on memory and learning and but had no effect on active avoidance on memory. Hence, may serve useful memory and learning with less effect in blood pressure in promoting memory and learning increases.