Comparative study of the effect of Thymus marschallianus Willd. extracts on the cognitive functions of mice in the radial maze

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is a problem of modern medicine that affects many areas of society. The search for drugs that can correct these disorders is quite relevant. Of particular interest are substances with minimal side effects, some of which are herbal products.

AIM: Study of the working and long-term spatial memory of mice in the «eight-arm radial maze» test under the influence of repeated administration of Thymus marschallianus Willd. extracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 36 non-linear male mice, divided into 4 groups – control and 3 experimental. For 7 days, the animals were injected daily intragastrically with caffeine at a dose of 40 mg/kg (1^st group), alcoholic extract of Thymus marschallianus Willd. at a dose of 100 mg/kg (2^nd group), aqueous extract of Thymus marschallianus Willd. at a dose of 100 mg/kg (3^rd group). To assess cognitive function, a radial maze test was used to calculate memory scores.

RESULTS: According to the results of the study, it was found that animals receiving caffeine (40 mg/kg) showed a higher memory score compared to other study groups. The introduction of an aqueous extract of Thymus marschallianus Willd. at a dose of 100 mg/kg (group 3) led to an increase in memory points by the 4^th day of testing. In the second experimental group, there were no changes in memory points depending on the administration of an alcoholic extract of Thymus marschallianus Willd. (100 mg/kg).

CONCLUSIONS: The use of caffeine (40 mg/kg) caused the activation of both short-term and long-term memory in mice. Administration of an aqueous extract of Thymus marschallianus Willd. (100 mg/kg) affected working memory and did not induce the formation of long-term spatial memory in animals. An alcoholic extract of Thymus marschallianus Willd. (100 mg/kg) showed minimal effect on the formation of working and long-term spatial memory in mice.