The Comparison of the Effects of the Extract of Pegagan (Centella Asiatica [L.] Urban.) with That of Book Abstract
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Published: January 05, 2008
Pegagan (Centella Asiatica Urban.) is one of the medicinal plants which has been used for a long time as a traditional medication for improving memory. The objective of this study is to compare the effects of Pegagan extract with that of Ginkgo biloba in influencing cognitive function of learning and memorizing in male Swiss Webster mice. The nature of the study is experimental using a complete randomized factorial design involving 30 mice divided into 3 groups. The first group is a control group which is only given aquabidest. The second group is given extract of Pegagan amounts to 300 mg/kg body weight. The third group is given extract of Ginkgo biloba amounts to 50 mg/kg body weight which is administered orally for the period of 6 weeks. The data on the process of learning and memorizing were obtained through a passive avoidance test. The data were analyzed using two ways ANOVA which were then followed by BNT test with significance level of P<0.05.
The result of the study shows that the extract of Pegagan and that of Ginkgo biloba improve the cognitive function of learning and memorizing which is indicated by the significant lengthening of the period of retention compared to that of the control group (P<0.05). The treatment with extract of Pegagan of 300 mg/kg body weight (with 3.0 mg of Scopolamine per kg body weight) resulted in a significant difference of retention (68.58 seconds) from that of the treatment with 50 mg of Ginkgo biloba per kg of body weight (with 3.0 mg of Scopolamine per kg body weight) which resulted in 83.27 seconds of retention. While the control group with 3 mg of Scopolamine per kg body weight resulted in -19.93 seconds of retention which is significantly different from that of the group treated with 300 mg of Pegagan extract per kg body weight which resulted in 68.58 seconds of retention. Based on the result of the study it can concluded that the treatment with 300 mg of Pegagan per kg body weight can improve the cognitive function of learning and memory in male Swiss Webster mice which is equal to the effect of treatment with 50 mg of Ginkgo biloba per kg body weight.