Context: Coccinia indica Naud (Cucurbitaceae) has been traditionally used for the treatment of depression but these claims have not been validated. Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate antidepressant activity of various extracts and fractions of C. indica aerial parts, and to estimate content of quercetin in the plant using TLC densitometry. Materials and methods: Coccinia indica aerial parts were successively extracted using solvents in increasing order of polarity, namely n-hexane, chloroform, methanol, and water. Various extracts were evaluated for antidepressant activity at doses of 200 or 400 mg/kg, p.o., upon acute administration in mice using the forced swim test (FST). The bioactive extract was partitioned successively using solvents in increasing order of polarity, namely n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. All fractions were also screened for antidepressant activity at doses of 25 or 50 mg/kg, p.o., upon acute administration in mice. Results: The methanol extract significantly reduced the duration of immobility in FST at dose of 400 mg/kg without affecting locomotor activity in open field test, thus, confirmed its antidepressant activity, which was statistically equivalent to the standard drug (imipramine, 15 mg/kg, i.p.). Ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) exhibited antidepressant activity at 50 mg/kg. Comparative TLC fingerprint studies confirmed the presence of quercetin in methanol extract and EAF. Quercetin was used as a chemical marker to standardize C. indica aerial parts using the validated TLC densitometric method, and the content of quercetin was found to be 0.00172% w/w. Conclusions: The present studies scientifically validated traditional claims of C. indica for antidepressant activity.

BackgroundAn earlier study demonstrated significant antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of hydromethanol extract (HME) of Allium cepa. The aim of the study was to investigate the component responsible for these activities followed by an in vivo study.MethodsIn vitro antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of standardized ethylacetate fraction (EAF) of HME were assessed. Bioactivity-guided fractionation showed that, as compared with its subfractions, EAF had most significant activity in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and Ellman assays. Thus, EAF was further examined using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced model of Alzheimer’s disease in mice. STZ was injected intracerebroventricularly on days 1 and 3 (3 mg/kg) in mice. EAF was thereafter administered (42, 84, and 168 mg/kg b.w./day p.o.) from days 9 to 22. The Morris water maze test was used to evaluate learning and memory in mice. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and oxidative stress markers were assessed in the brain homogenates of mice. Additionally, histopathological studies were performed to observe effects in the brain at the cellular level. EAF was standardized based on quercetin and quercetin 4′-O-glucoside content using a validated thin layer chromatography densitometric method.ResultsSTZ produced significant (p < 0.05) memory impairment along with oxidative stress and a cholinergic deficit in mice. EAF treatment ameliorated STZ-induced behavioral deficits and biochemical alterations in mice in a significant and dose-dependent manner.ConclusionsOur results show that EAF is efficacious in improving memory and learning via AChE inhibition and antioxidant activity in the mice brain. Thus, AC could be explored further to find out a lead candidate for Alzheimer’s disease.

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