The pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) typically begins before symptoms manifest. Early diagnosis and treatment can slow down the disease progression and improve the prognosis. Decreased acetylcholine, antioxidants, and polyunsaturated fatty acids enhance the progression of AD. Phytochemicals present in the Cucurbita pepo (C. pepo) plants may have anti-cholinesterase activity. Therefore, this study was performed using ethanolic extract of pumpkin seeds in the AlCl3 induced AD in Sprague Dawley rats. These rats were categorized into five groups, i.e., control, disease control (AlCl3), standard (Rivastigmine), and two treatment groups, one with 100mg/kg and the other with 200mg/kg of the pumpkin seed extract which was given once daily orally for 28days. The rats were assessed for behavioral and biochemical parameters such as antioxidant enzymes and acetyl-cholinesterase levels in brain homogenate. There was statistically significant (p<0.005) improvement in behavioral parameters and increase antioxidant levels and decrease acetylcholinesterase levels in the seed extract treatment groups compared to the AD rats. GC-MS analysis of C.pepo seeds showed the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have a significant role in neurite outgrowth activity. To conclude, the 80% ethanolic extract of Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin seeds) has anticholinesterase, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity and can prevent memory impairment.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disorder affecting the colonic mucosa, characterized by intense inflammation and mucosal damage. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of the Trigonellafoenum-graecum L. (TFG) seeds in acetic acid-induced UC in rats. Materials and Methods: Male rats (n=30) were distributed into 5 groups as normal control, UC, standard, and two test groups. Colitis was induced by acetic acid in all the groups except the normal control group. Normal control and UC group received distilled water, the standard group was administered sulfasalazine at 100mg/kg body weight (bw), and test groups, TFG-I, and TFG-II received TFG seed extract at 500 and 1000 mg/kg bw, respectively. The duration of treatment was 7 days, and colitis was induced on day 8. Animals were sacrificed on day 9 and colonic tissue was dissected and collected for biochemical, molecular, and histological analysis. Results: The disease activity index score in standard, TFG-I, and TFG-II (3.33±0.21, 2.66±0.21, and 3.50±0.22) was significantly lesser (P<0.05) than scores in the UC group (4±0.01). The macroscopic score indicating the intensity of mucosal inflammation was significantly decreased (P≤ 0.01) to4.0±0.25, 3.16±0.30, and 3.83±0.40 in standard, TFG-I, and TFG-II groups, respectively compared to the UC group (4.66±0.21). Similarly, there was a significant reduction (P≤0.05) in histological scores of the standard, TFG-I, TFG-II (3.5±0.34, 1.25±0.34, 3.25±0.34) groups compared to the UC group (4.75±0.34). Biochemical assessment in the standard and test groups showed significant increase (P<0.05) in total protein, reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels whereas significant reduction (P<0.01) in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to UC group. The pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α levels were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in standard, TFG-I, and TFG-II (-1.75±0.007, -0.27±0.17 and -0.51±0.002) when compared to the UC group (0.20±0.02). Conclusion: The study demonstrates the ability of TFG seeds in reducing the inflammatory and oxidative stress induced mucosal damage in acetic acid-induced UC in rats.