Resveratrol reverses the restraint stress-induced cognitive dysfunction involving brain antioxidant system in rats

Objective:Restraint stress in rats is known to adversely affect the behavior especially memory dysfunctions in rats. Though there are many factors involved in this stress-induced memory impairment, damage to the antioxidant system in the brain is also known to be a causative factor. Resveratrol is known to exert its neuroprotective potentials by up regulating several antioxidant systems. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of resveratrol against stress-induced cognitive impairment and involvement of brain antioxidant enzymes. Methods: Male rats were subjected to restraint stress for 6 hours consecutively for 21 days. Another sets of rats received similar intensity and duration of stress along with either 10 or 20mg/kg dose of resveratrol for 28 days with its administration before a weak of stressing procedure. A control group of rats was also served in the experiment. The behavioural studies include active avoidance and open field tests. Thereafter the rats were sacrificed and the whole brain homogenate was subjected to lipid peroxidation and total antioxidants (TAO)estimation. Results: Restraint stress has impaired motor activity, learning and memory activities and resveratrol treatment has reversed this cognitive dysfunction. Restraint stress caused an alteration in oxidative stress markers with a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and depletion of total antioxidant activities, which was reversed by resveratrol. Conclusion: Results of the present study confirm that resveratrol can reverse the stress induced memory dysfunction by exerting its antioxidant potentials.