Promnesic, Anxiolytic and Antioxidant Effects of Glaucosciadium cordifolium (Boiss.) Burtt & Davis Essential Oil in a Zebrafish Model of Cognitive Impairment

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Glaucosciadium cordifolium essential oil (GCEO, 25 and 150 mu L/L) on anxiety and learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine (SCOP) in zebrafish. The chemical composition was analyzed by GC-MS, and the results showed that the highest content was limonene followed by alpha- and beta-pinene, p-cymene and alpha-phellandrene. The dementia model was induced by SCOP (100 mu M), whereas GCEO and galantamine (GAL, 1 mg/L) were delivered to the SCOP-induced model. It was found that GCEO significantly improved memory impairment and anxiety-like response induced by SCOP through the Y-maze, novel object recognition (NOR) test, and novel tank diving tests (NTT). Biochemical analyses showed that GCEO reduced SCOP-induced oxidative damage. Additionally, the cholinergic system activity was improved in the SCOP-induced model by decreasing the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity following the exposure to GCEO. It was clear that as a mixture, GCEO displays positive action in improving memory impairment through restoring cholinergic dysfunction and brain antioxidant status.

Automated summary

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Glaucosciadium cordifolium essential oil (GCEO, 25 and 150 mu L/L) on anxiety and learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine (SCOP) in zebrafish. The chemical composition of GCEO was analyzed and the results showed that it mainly consisted of limonene, alpha- and beta-pinene, p-cymene, and alpha-phellandrene. GCEO significantly improved memory impairment and anxiety-like response induced by SCOP through various tests. Furthermore, GCEO reduced oxidative damage and improved cholinergic system activity in the SCOP-induced model.