Anti-Stress Effects of Kaempferia parviflora in Immobilization Subjected Rats

It is well known that intense and prolonged stress can produce hippocampal neuronal damage and cognitive impairments, few studies have investigated possible ways to prevent its deleterious effects. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of a Thai traditional herb, Kaempferia Parviflora (KP) extract, commonly known as Kra-Chai-Dum, on learning and memory loss and the induction of neurodegeneration in the hippocampus by chronic stress. Rats were orally administered KP extract (100, 200 and 300 mg kg^-1) or vehicle over a period of 21 days while being exposed to chronic restraint stress (6 h day^-1). Investigated learning and memory using Morris water maze test after 7, 14 and 21 days of treatment and then the rats were sacrificed for determining the densities of survival and cholinergic neurons in the all regions of hippocampus. Treatment with KP extract at a dose of 200 mg kg^-1 blocked the ability of chronic stress to impair spatial learning and memory retention and enhanced both neuron densities as mention earlier, in all areas of the hippocampus. Present study highlights the modest activity of KP extract against chronic restraint stress induced modification. Thus, using these substances may be useful in neuroprotective strategy in the treatment of stress.