in vitro in vivo studies

Alzheimer’s is a disease of the brain that cause problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is not a normal part of ageing. Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and is the most common cause of dementia. Recognized factors in Alzheimer’s disease include acetylcholine deficiency, increased free radicals and inflammation of the brain tissue. Drugs designed to slow down the disease progression are available. However these medicines have drawbacks of inducing central and peripheral side effects, insomnia, etc. Thus the demand for the new and safer drugs from natural sources have become important. Sesbania grandiflora is an important plant belonging to family Fabaceae which is commonly known as agathi. The reported uses are Anti- convulsant, anxiolytic, Anti-microbial, anti- diarrhoeal and anti-inflammatory. The main active constituents present are alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds. Main objective of this study is to establish the anti – Alzheimer’s disease activity of methanolic extract of leaves of Sesbania grandiflora by using various in vivo and in vitro methods. In vitro determination of Anti-Alzheimer’s Disease activity by the neuroprotective effect determination by MTT assay. Invivo anti – Alzheimer’s activity evaluated by stepdown method. Elevated plus maze model: Albino mice divided in to five groups each of 6 animals as follows. Group I: Normal, Group II: Control, Group III: Standard (Donepezil), Group IV & V: Test (High and low doses). After seven days of drug treatment, animals are allowed to explore the maze for 2 min and transfer latency (TL) is measured on seventh and eighth day.