Objective:

Mountain tea with the scientific moniker of Stachys lavandulifolia has been used in traditional medicine for osteoarthritis and rheumatic disorders. Its leaf extract has also been adopted to treat epilepsy and other central nervous system disorders. To evaluate the effect of S. lavandulifolia extract, the experimental model of memory impairment caused by seizures was performed in rats.

Methods:

Seizures in male Wistar rats (200–250 g) were induced with a challenge dose (60 mg/kg) of pentylenetetrazole. Animals were treated with either S. lavandulifolia extract (50 mg/kg) or sodium valproate (100 mg/kg) alone or in combination intraperitoneally 30 minutes before pentylenetetrazole administration. The rate of memory was assessed using the passive avoidance test. At the end of the experiments, the rats were put down painlessly via deep anesthesia, and their blood sera were isolated to assess antioxidative factors such as nitric oxide, catalase, and superoxide dismutase.

Results:

Pentylenetetrazole-treated group revealed a memory deficit compared with the control group. S. lavandulifolia extract exhibited protection at the dose of 50 mg/kg in pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures. S. lavandulifolia extract also reduced seizure-induced memory impairment, which resulted in a significant improvement in memory retrieval in passive avoidance compared with the pentylenetetrazole-treated group. In addition, S. lavandulifolia extract treatment protects the seizure-induced memory deficit by lowering nitric oxide levels and restoring the antioxidant enzyme catalase and superoxide dismutase level.

Conclusion:

The findings revealed that S. lavandulifolia extract exhibits significant inhibitory activity and impedes memory impairment by inhibiting oxidative stress damage.

Keywords: Stachys lavandulifolia; passive avoidance; learning and memory; seizure; oxidative stress