Effect of astaxanthin on short term memory and levels of superoxide dismutase and mitochondrial complex II in scopolamine induced mice

The study was performed to evaluate the effect of astaxanthin (ATX) in improving short term memory and levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and mitochondrial complex II in scopolamine induced mice. Twenty-five (25) mice were divided into five groups; control, scopolamine (Sep) induced group and A TX treated groups ( 12.5, 25 and 50mg/kg of A TX). The control group was given normal saline 0.9% i/p while the Sep group and treatment groups were injected with 3mg/kg scopolamine i/p. Only after 7 days, the treatment was given. Morris Water Maze test was done after 21 days of Sep injection. The protein sample from the brain was collected and assayed for SOD and complex II activity. The effect of ATX in the behavioral test was not shown significantly except for day 2 which there is a significant difference in distance travelled by mice in scopolamine induced group and the second dose (25mg/kg) group. Nevertheless, there is no statistically significance difference shown based on the levels of SOD and complex II (NS, P>0.05).