Research Gist
This study examined whether Swarna Bhasma could protect memory in rats exposed to ongoing sleep restriction. Male albino rats were divided into five groups: normal sleep, sleep-deprived without treatment, a reference group receiving galantamine, and two groups receiving Swarna Bhasma. All groups except the normal group were kept on 8 to 9 hours of daily sleep restriction to induce cognitive impairment. Memory and learning were assessed on days 7, 14 and 20 using the radial arm maze and elevated plus maze. Rats receiving Swarna Bhasma showed improved spatial memory, more correct choices, fewer errors, faster task completion and shorter transfer latency than sleep-deprived untreated rats. Blood analysis also showed stronger antioxidant markers in the treated groups.
Key Learnings
- Swarna Bhasma reversed memory deficits caused by repeated sleep restriction.
- Treated rats made more correct choices and fewer errors in the radial arm maze.
- Transfer latency in the elevated plus maze, a measure of learning and memory, was reduced.
- Plasma antioxidant markers were stronger in the Swarna Bhasma groups.
- This was a rat study on one preparation — it does not establish the same effect in people.