Phytochemical Screening and Pharmacological Evaluation of Momordia Dioica Ethanolic Extract for Anticonvulsant and Antidepressant Activity

Momordica dioica is traditionally used as astringent, febrifuge, antiseptic, anthelmintic, spermicidal. also used in bleeding piles, urinary infection and as a sedative. Studies indicate that it possesses antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-lipid peroxidative, hypoglycemic and analgesic properties. Momordica dioica ethanolic extract was tested for anticonvulsant and antidepressant action at 200 and 400mg/kg doses by using a different models of convulsion and depression in mice and results were compared with those standard and control groups. Sensitive mice which showed expected standard responses to MES, PTZ and INH were stimuli divided into four groups of 6 mice in each. The anticonvusant drug phenytoin 25mg/kg and diazepam was used as a standard. The important parameters studied were seizure latency, tonic hind limb flexion, tonic hind limb extension and percentage protection against mortality (only in MES model). In PTZ and INH model the parameters were selected for the study jerking movement, clonic convulsion and extensor then in INH latency of seizure and time taken for death was done. The ethanolic extract of Momordica dioica is likely to be of safe in the management of convlsions. The antidepressant activity of the ethanolic extracts of Momordica dioica revealed significant depression pattern in test for pentobarbitone induced sleeping time and exploratory activity in mice.