Abstract

Background: The progressive decline in learning and memory is an inevitable effect of aging. Numerous experimental evidences suggest that diet and physical exercise prevent cognitive deficits with age.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was designed to explore the influence of dietary supplementation of Hemidesmus indicus (HI) extract and swimming exercise on cognitive ability and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in rats.

Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats received oral supplementation of HI extract (50 and 100 mg/kg BW) and swim trained for 84 days, 30 min/day, 6 days/week. The rats were subjected to behavioral studies by T-maze followed by western blotting for BDNF expression.

Results: The synergistic intervention was found to be more effective in improving cognition in terms of acquisition and retention. Training and supplementation of 100 mg/kg BW HI extract enhanced BDNF expression in the different regions of the brain, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum regions of the brain.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that both interventions improve cognitive ability and promote neurogenesis and can be used as a therapeutic strategy in preventing age-associated neurological disorders.

Key words: Hemidesmus indicus; Dietary Supplementation; Swimming Exercise; Cognition; Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor