Balaji More

While tomato products supplementation, containing various carotenoids, including lycopene has hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect, the role of purified lycopene for the same remains unclear. Thus we tested the effect of pure lycopene powder for its effect on lipid profile, blood glucose and antioxidant enzyme in hyperlipidemic rabbits.Male New- Zealand White rabbits were used. Blood samples from all the 12 rabbits were taken for the baseline level of lipids, [Serum Total Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), Serum Triglycerides (TG), High Density Lipoproteins (HDL)] blood glucose and blood superoxide dismutase(SOD). Same tests were performed in high fat diet fed (control group) and high fat diet + lycopene (10 mg/kg) (test group) after 6 weeks. There was a significant decrease in the level of serum TC, LDL – C and serum TG and an increase in serum HDL – C and antioxidant SOD after addition of lycopene to high fat diet. There was however no change in blood glucose level. Purified lycopene showed significant hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity. However, it did not show significant effect on blood glucose level. Key Words: Lycopene, Hypolipidemia, Antioxidant Superoxide Dismutase, High fat diet.

  To compare the effect of mentat and Donepezil was on working memory in rats. The rats were trained for conditioned avoidance response by using Cook’s pole climbing apparatus. Rats trained for CAR received scopolamine (hydrobromide) in a dose of 0.5mg/kg by intraperitoneal route before administration of study drugs. This is known to produce amnesia which will be used to evaluate the effect on learning and memory of study drugs. Donepezil was given in a dose of 0.32mg/kg by intraperitoneal route and mentat was given in a dose of 200mg/kg by oral route for eight days in the animals after training for conditioned avoidance response. Data was analysed by the chi-square test. Findings show that administration of single dose of scopolamine 20 minutes before the test run on the apparatus causes transient amnesia daily for resulting in disruption of the retention of CAR. Mentat and donepezil significantly increased the retention of condition avoidance response in comparison to scopolamine. However there was no significant statistical difference in the increase in the retention of CAR in mentat or donepezil given alone, but the combination of the two drugs showed statistically significant increase in the retention of CAR than either of these drugs alone. Results from this study provide good platform to conduct clinical studies to assess the benefit of combining mentat with donepezil when given for a longer period of time. Key Words: Working memory, mentat, donepezil, scopolamine, conditioned avoidance response.