A Study of the Effects of Pistaciavera (Pistachio) Seed Oil on Working Memory as Well as Spatial Learning and Memory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Physiology-Pharmacology Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

2 Physiology-Pharmacology Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

3 Rafsanjan, Iran

Keywords


 

 

A Study of the Effects of Pistaciavera (Pistachio) Seed Oil on

Working Memory as Well as Spatial Learning and Memory

Mohammad Pak-Hashemi (MSc)1,2, Mahsa Hassanipour (PhD)1,2, Mohammadreza Mohammadinasab (MSc)3, Ayat Kaeidi (PhD)1,2, Ali Shamsizadeh (PhD)1,2, Elham Hakimizadeh (PhD)1,2, Mohammad Allahtavakoli (PhD)1,2, Iman Fatemi (PhD)1,2*

1Physiology-Pharmacology Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences,

Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

2Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine,

Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

3Student Research Committee, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

Received: 30 Aug. 2018    Accepted: 22 Sep. 2018

Abstract 

 

Introduction: Pistaciavera (pistachio) seeds are well-known medicinal herbs with several important pharmacological properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The effects of pistachio oil (PO) have not yet been studied on the cognition performance. The current study was designed to investigate the nootropic effects of PO on male Wistar rats.

 

Materials and Methods: A total of 21 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups. Group1 was kept under normal conditions. Groups 2 and 3 were orally treated with PO, 1 and 4 mL/kg, respectively, for 21 days. Next, cognition was evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM) and the Y-maze continuous alternation task (Y-CAT).

 

Results: The results showed that PO improved the working memory in Y-CAT, but it failed to exert positive effects on the spatial learning and memory in MWM.

 

Conclusion: The findings of the current study suggest that PO enhances the working memory and remedies memory impairments and cognitive deficits.

 


Please cite this article as follows:

Pak-Hashemi M, Hassanipour M, Mohammadinasab MR, Kaeidi A, Shamsizadeh A, Hakimizadeh E, et al. A Study of the Effects of Pistaciavera (pistachio) Seed Oil on Working Memory as Well as Spatial Learning and Memory. Pistachio and Health Journal. 2018; 1 (3): 1-7