Research Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Anti-amnesic activity of methanolic extract of Tagetes erecta flower heads were carried out using various in-vitro and in-vivo models.

Preliminary Phytochemical screening of Tagetes erecta extract was carried out by using standard tests. Acute toxicity studies were performed as per OECD-425 guidelines. In-vivo anti-amnesic activity was evaluated in aluminium chloride induced amnesia (chronic) using Cook's pole climbing apparatus and elevated plus maze. Various biochemical parameters like anticholinesterase (AChE) using Ellman's assay and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) were also estimated. Histopathological studies of brain were carried out in AlCl3 induced amnesic model.

The acute toxicity studies revealed that the extract was safe upto 2000 mg/kg, bd.wt. The METE at two doses levels 200 and 400 mg/kg, bd. wt reversed the memory deficit induced by aluminium in mice models. METE significantly (p<0.05) reduced the brain AChE activity and TBARS level.

The presence of active constituents like flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids and phenols in methanolic extract of flower heads of Tagetes erecta might be responsible for its anti-amnesic and anti-cholinesterase activity.