Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine

Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine

Cedrol improved brain-derived neurotrophic factor and attenuated oxidative stress in the brain and improved learning and memory in scopolamine-injected rats

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors
Farzaneh Shakeri 1
Arezoo Rajabian 2
Fatemeh Mansouritorghabeh 3
Farimah Beheshti 4
Fatemeh Forouzanfar 2
Bahram Bibak 1
Mohammad Hossein Eshaghi Ghalibaf 5
Mahmoud Hosseini 5
1 1- Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran 2- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
2 Neuroscience Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
3 Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4 1-Neuroscience Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran 2-Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
5 Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, and Department of Physiology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
10.22038/ajp.2025.88643.4086
Abstract
Objective: Natural antioxidant products including cedrol are suggested to improve cognitive abilities. In the current research, the possible effects of cedrol on oxidative stress, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) within the brain, using scopolamine‑treated rats as a model of memory impairment, were investigated.
Materials and Methods: The rats received 15 or 30 mg/kg cedrol or its vehicle and then were injected with scopolamine. The animals were examined in Morris water maze test (MWMT) and passive avoidance test (PAT). The brain tissues were also collected and were used for biochemical examinations.
Results: Cedrol at both doses shortened the latency and distance required to locate the hidden platform across 5 days of MWMT (p<0.05 to p<0.001) and prolonged the time and distance in the target area in probe test of MWMT (p<0.05 to p<0.001). In the PAT, cedrol decreased the time spent in the dark part (p<0.001) and the entry number in to the dark (p<0.05 to p<0.001) but increased delay time to enter the dark part (p<0.001) and the time spent in the light part (p<0.001). Cedrol especially at the higher dose increased BDNF, thiols, catalase and superoxide dismutase levels, but reduced malondialdehyde in the tissues of the brain.
Conclusion: The findings revealed that cedrol could mitigate cognitive dysfunction induced by injection of scopolamine through attenuating oxidative stress and improving BDNF levels.
Keywords
Cedrol Brain
derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Oxidative stress Learning ability Memory Cholinergic system
Subjects
Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 February 2026