European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF CUCURBITA PEPO LEAVES IN MICE

*Sajja Ravindra Babu, Mariam John Mammen, Burra Sai Praveen, K. Bhavani, Nidhi Jha and
Pendyala Ruchitha

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to determine the antidepressant activity of leaves of Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin) compared with the standard drug: Fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) in normal mice. The phytochemical test provides an overview of the chemical composition of Cucurbita pepo and shows the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, carbohydrates and terpenoids. Animal testing results showed the administration of Cucurbita pepo produced a significant (p < 0.01) decrease of the duration of immobility time of mice exposed to Forced Swimming Test and Tail Suspension Test. Dose of 300 mg/kg, p.o of Aqueous extract of Cucurbita pepo administered to mice produced significant antidepressant effect in both FST and TST than Aqueous extract of Cucurbita pepo 100 mg/kg, p.o and their efficiencies were found to be comparable to fluoxetine in dose of 20 mg/kg, p.o. The flavonoids components of CPAE might be interacting with 5-HT in mediating the antidepressant effect of Cucurbita pepo.

Keywords: Antidepressant, Cucurbita pepo, Forced Swim Test, Tail Suspension Test.