ANTI-EMETIC AND ANTI-INFLAMMAOTRY ACTIVITY OF FRUIT PEEL OF LUFFA CYLINDRICA (L.) ROEM

Ethanol extract of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. Fruit peel was evaluated for antiemetic and anti-inflammatory effect using chick emesis model and carrageenan induced rat paw edema. The antiemetic effect was observed at a dose of 150 mg /kg body weight whereas anti-inflammatory effect was observed at doses of 500, 750 and 1000 mg /kg body weight orally. Chlorpromazine 150mg/kg and indomethacin 10mg/kg orally were used as standard anti-emetic and anti-inflammatory drugs. The anti-emetic effect was determined by calculating the mean decrease in number of retching in contrast with those of control after 10minutes of copper sulfate (50mg/kg orally) administration. The degree of paw edema of all the groups was measured using a plethysmometer at 5 th hour of carrageenan (1% w/v) administration. The extract exhibited statistically significant anti-emetic (P< 0.001) and antiinflammatory (P< 0.05) effects.