Evaluation of the Nootropic Activity of the Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Neolamarckia cadamba in Experimental Animal Models

This study aimed to evaluate the nootropic activity of the ethanolic leaf extract of Neolamarckia cadamba (ELENC) in mice. Nootropic activity was assessed using ELENC at selected doses. Donepezil (100 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as the standard reference drug, and scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to induce amnesia. Learning and memory were evaluated using the Elevated Plus Maze, Radial Arm Maze, and Y-maze paradigms in scopolamine-induced amnesic mice. In addition, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels were estimated in whole-brain homogenates to assess cholinergic function. ELENC treatment significantly increased behavioral and spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze task, indicating improved spatial working memory. In the elevated plus-maze model, ELENC significantly reduced transfer latency in scopolamine-treated mice, suggesting enhanced learning and cognition. The extract also increased locomotor activity and markedly decreased brain acetylcholinesterase levels compared with the normal control, negative control, and standard drug groups, indicating restoration of cholinergic neurotransmission disrupted by scopolamine. Overall, these findings suggest that ELENC improves learning and memory across multiple behavioral models, and the reduction in brain AChE activity further supports its neuroprotective potential. Therefore, Neolamarckia cadamba leaf extract may serve as a promising therapeutic candidate for the management of Alzheimer’s disease and related cognitive impairments. Keywords: Nootropic activity, Neolamarckia cadamba, Alzheimer’s disease, Donepezil, scopolamine