The effects of myrmecodia platytyrea extract on behavioral parameters in lipopolysaccharide­-induced neuroinflammation balb/c mice / Liyana Amirah Mohd Nawawi

Neuroinflammation plays detrimental role in neurodegenerative disease, particularly Alzheimer's disease. This research deals with Myrmecodia platytyrea, in which the main focus is to discover the neuroprotective effect of the extract on behavioral parameters, specifically, on cognitive function. Lipopolysaccharide was used to induce neuroinflammation in balb/c mice for the evaluation of neuroprotective effect of M platytyrea tuber extract. 20 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of M platytyrea extract were administered orally into mice for 21 days. Lipopolysaccharide with dose of 0.25 mg/kg was then injected intraperitoneally into mice along with oral administration of M platytyrea for another 7 days. 0.9% normal saline were injected into 6 mice throughout 7 days as vehicle control group. Piracetam was administered orally into 6 mice along with intraperitonal injection of lipopolysaccharide throughout 7 days as standard or treatment control group. Locomotor activity test was used to evaluate general locomotor activity of mice. This study showed that there is decreased in locomotor activity in mice with non-significant decrease were observed in total distance travelled and average speed of mice. Meanwhile, Morris water maze task was performed to evaluate the capacity of animal to retrieve and retain learned information, thus reflecting cognitive performance related to spatial memory. Administration of lipopolysaccharide for one week period non-significantly impaired cognitive task. Four weeks M platytyrea treatment non-significantly improved behavioral alterations, indicated by shortened latency to escape, decreased total distance travelled and increased average speed. This study highlights the potential of M platytyrea to attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced behavioral and cognitive deficits in balb/c mice.