Evaluation of the possible neuroprotective effects of Achillea bieberstenii (Asteraceae) plant essential oil on scopolamine-induced amnesic rats

In this study, we investigated the possible neuroprotective effects of Achillea biebersteinii Afan (Asteraceae) volatile oil. The plant is a shrub, distributed in South-west Asia, South-eastern Europe, and Northern Africa. It is an aromatic and medicinal plant and used for this purpose in Turkey and the World. In conventional medication, it is prescribed for treating haemorrhage, in-appetence, asthma, stomachache and tumours. The present research investigates the memory enhancing, anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of Achillea biebersteinii essential oil on scopolamine-induced amnesic rats. Y-maze and radial arm maze tasks were used for evaluating memory formation. Likewise, the anxiety and depressive-like behavior were conducted by elevated plus-maze and forced swimming tasks. The scopolamine-treated rats reduced the memory formation, and caused anxiety and depression as expected. Furthermore, scopolamine administration decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and the total content of glutathione (GSH), while increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the rat amygdala and hippocampal homogenates of the rats as compared to control. Achillea biebersteinii volatile oil significantly enhanced memory development and reduced oxidative stress in scopolamine-treated rats. Hence, this study suggests that the multiple exposures of Achillea biebersteinii volatile oil ameliorates scopolamine-induced spatial memory weakness by reduction of the oxidative stress in the rat amygdala and hippocampus homogenates. Key words: Achillea biebersteinii Essential Oil, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Alzheimer's Disease, Scopolamine.