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eCAM Advance Access published online on June 14, 2006
eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/nel024
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© The Author (2006). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
Received September 30, 2004
Accepted July 3, 2005

Original Article

Centella asiatica (L.) Leaf Extract Treatment During the Growth Spurt Period Enhances Hippocampal CA3 Neuronal Dendritic Arborization in Rats

K. G. Mohandas Rao 1 *, S. Muddanna Rao 2, and S. Gurumadhva Rao 3

1 Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal, India
2 Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India
3 Department of Pharmacology, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal, India

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
K. G. Mohandas Rao, E-mail: mohandaskg{at}gmail.com


  Abstract

Centella asiatica (CeA) is a creeping plant growing in damp places in India and other Asian countries. The leaves of CeA are used for memory enhancement in the Ayurvedic system of medicine, an alternative system of medicine in India. In this study, we have investigated the effect during the rat growth spurt period of CeA fresh leaf extract treatment on the dendritic morphology of hippocampal CA3 neurons, one of the regions of the brain concerned with learning and memory. Neonatal rat pups (7 days old) were fed with 2, 4 or 6 ml kg-1 body weight of fresh leaf extract of CeA for 2, 4 or 6 weeks. After the treatment period the rats were killed, their brains were removed and the hippocampal neurons were impregnated with silver nitrate (Golgi staining). Hippocampal CA3 neurons were traced using a camera lucida, and dendritic branching points (a measure of dendritic arborization) and intersections (a measure of dendritic length) were quantified. These data were compared with data for age-matched control rats. The results showed a significant increase in the dendritic length (intersections) and dendritic branching points along the length of both apical and basal dendrites in rats treated with 4 and 6 ml kg-1 body weight per day of CeA for longer periods of time (i.e. 4 and 6 weeks). We conclude that the constituents/active principles present in CeA fresh leaf extract have a neuronal dendritic growth stimulating property; hence, the extract can be used for enhancing neuronal dendrites in stress and neurodegenerative and memory disorders.

Keywords: Centella asiatica; dendritic branches; dendritic intersections; growth spurt period; hippocampal CA3 neurons.
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This article has been cited by other articles:


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 Evid Based Complement Alternat MedHome page
K. G. Mohandas Rao, S. Muddanna Rao, and S. Gurumadhva Rao
Enhancement of Amygdaloid Neuronal Dendritic Arborization by Fresh Leaf Juice of Centella asiatica (Linn) During Growth Spurt Period in Rats
Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., June 1, 2009; 6(2): 203 - 210.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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