Effect of Tribulus Terrestris Oral Feeding on Learning and Memory in Streptozotocin-diabetic Rats: Investigating the Role of lipid Peroxidation

Diabetes in long term is associated with learning and memory deficits. Given the Anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities of Tribulus terrestris (TT). to evaluate the effect of oral administration of Tribulus terrestris on learning and memory in diabetic rats. Thirty two Wistar rats were divided into control، TT-treated control، diabetic، and TT-treated diabetic groups. To evaluate their learning and memory، initial (IL) and step-through latencies (STL) were determined at the end of study using passive avoidance test and alternation behavior percentage was obtained using Y maze. Level of malondialdehyde in hippocampal homogenate was also measured at the end of the study. STL significantly decreased in diabetic group (p<0. 01) and TT-treated diabetic group showed a significantly higher STL (p<0. 01)، compared to the diabetic counterparts. Alternation percentage was significantly lower in the diabetic group relative to the controls (p<0. 01) and treated diabetic group did show a significant difference in comparison with the diabetic group (p<0. 05). Diabetic rats also exhibited a significant increase in tissue level of malondialdehyde (p<0. 01) and TT treatment significantly reduced MDA level (p<0. 01) in the diabetic group. TT treatment could enhance the capability of consolidation and recall in diabetic animals and could also improve spatial memory in them، partly via attenuation of lipid peroxidation in the hippocampus