Potential role of Rosmarinus officinalis on brain cognition in mice model for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Several studies had revealed that Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) causes impairment of learning and memory and leads to dementia. T2DM negatively affects the hippocampal integrity and neurogenesis as insulin supports the fibroblast growth factor which regulates the neurogenesis process. The impaired insulin activity and secretion contributes in impairment of learning and memory. The present study elucidated the potential effects of Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly known as rosemary on impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis in T2DM mice model using behavioral tests histological and immunohistochemical analysis. The male Balb/c mice were administered high fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ) (100 mg/kg i.p.) dose at 6th and 9th week of age. Following this, the 50 mg/kg dose of rosemary leaves extract was administered orally for 21 days starting 36 hr after the second STZ injection at 9 weeks of age. The results revealed the impairment of learning and memory associated with a decline in neurogenesis in T2DM mice. Interestingly after receiving R. officinalis extract diabetic mice reflect significant improvement in learning and memory and induction of neurogenesis process in hippocampus. The results are assertive of the notion that neurogenesis induced by the administration of R. officinalis extract lead to an improvement in learning and memory in diabetic mice. In conclusion it can be suggested that R. officinalis can be a potential drug for improvement of learning and memory in diabetes, however further studies are also required to explore the active constituents of R. officinalis that will further strengthen the preliminary finding of the present study.