ANXIOLYTIC AND MEMORY ENHANCING ACTIVITY OF L.SICERARIA IN RODENTS

: Background and objective: Lagenaria siceraria (Bottle gourd) is an important fruit vegetable grown in warm-season. Different diseases have been managed with Lagenaria siceraria in different systems of traditional medication. The plant contains various phytochemicals of pharmacological significance. In the current study, neuropharmacological screening of the plant is performed to further explore this wonderful herbal drug. Materials and Methods: Aqueous extract of Lagenaria siceraria was given orally in the dose of 200 mg/kg bid (twice a day) for a period of 30 days in mice and 45 days in rats. The head dip test and the light/dark box test were used to study anxiolytic activity while the water maze and the stationary rod were used for the assessment of memory enhancing effect. The exploratory and locomotor activities were also studied using cage crossing and open field test. All values were compared with control by taking mean of all of them and the significance of difference between mean is determined by student t-test. Values of P<0.05 were considered as significant. Results: The percentage of time spent in light box was increased to highly significant extent and the time taken to reach the plateform in stationary rod activity and water maze was significantly reduced after the administration of the drug. The exploratory and locomotor activities were also decreased.7 Conclusion: On the basis of above observations it is concluded that aqueous extract of Lagenaria siceraria possesses both anxiolytic and memory enhancing activity.