Unpolished thai purple sticky rice (variety Luem Phua) aqueous extract enhancing spatial memory in mice

In Thailand, aromatic and indigenous purple sticky rice variety Luem Phua is a variety enriched with flavonoids and many other substances. This study investigated the effect of unpolished Thai Luem Phua rice aqueous extract (RE) on spatial memory in mice.

Mice were fed with water or RE, 2.5 or 5g/kg and SC injected with water or scopolamine (0.5mg/kg), and subjected to the Morris water maze test. Compared to the control, mice treated with 5g/kg RE showed a significant decrease, while 0.5mg/kg scopolamine had a significant increase in escape latency. Pretreatment with either 2.5 or 5mg/kg RE could ameliorate the scopolamine-induced learning deficit as the escape latency times were significantly less when compared to the scopolamine-treated group. Only 2.5g/kg RE-treated mice presented a significant longer time in right quadrant than the control. However, when compared to the scopolamine-treated group, mice received RE (2.5 or 5g/kg) prior to scopolamine treatment had a significant longer time in right quadrant. Thus, this aqueous extract of unpolished Thai Luem Phua rice, with enhancing spatial memory activity, should be potentially useful as dietary supplement.