CROCIN IMPROVES THE ETHANOL-INDUCED IMPAIRMENT OF LEARNING BEHAVIORS OF MICE IN PASSIVE-AVOIDANCE TASKS

The acute effects of crocin and picrocrocin, major components of Crocu s Sativus L., on learning and memory performances were investigated us ing mice in passive avoidance tasks. A single oral administration of c rocin had no effect on memory acquisition in normal mice. Oral adminis tration of 30% ethanol (10 ml/kg) induced impairment of memory acquisi tion in step through and step down tests. Oral pre-administration of c rocin (50 to 200 mg/kg) improved the impairment of memory acquisition in both tests in a dose-dependent manner. Crocin (50 to 200 mg/kg) als o had beneficial effect on 40% ethanol (10 ml/kg, p.o.)-induced memory retrieval deficit in step down test. Picrocrocin, the most abundant c omponent in Crocus Sativus L., did not affect the impairment of memory acquisition and retrieval in step through and step down tests at 50-2 00 mg/kg. These results suggest that crocin has preventive effect on t he ethanol-induced impairment of learning and memory.