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Objective Among the psychiatric co-morbidities in epilepsy, anxiety disorders are highly frequent and have profound influence on the quality of life of epilepsy patients. Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) is used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments including anxiety and epilepsy. However, no scientific evidence exists to support its use. We studied antiepileptic and anxiolytic activities of aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves (AEMO). Methods Antiepileptic activity was evaluated using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizure and maximum electroshock (MES) induced seizure test and anxiolytic activity was evaluated using elevated plus maze, light/dark box and hole board test. Results In present study, AEMO (250, 375 and 500 mg/kg, i.p.) demonstrated significant antiepileptic and anxiolytic effects. To study involvement of GABA in anxiolytic and antiepileptic activity of AEMO, we also evaluated effect of AEMO on Baclofen induced catatonia, a GABA mediated behavior, wherein AEMO significantly potentiated (preponed) baclofen induced catatonia, which is suggestive of its GABA mimetic action. Conclusion Thus, it may be concluded that aqueous extract of M. oleifera possess anxiolytic and antiepileptic effects possibly mediated via of GABA mimetic action and these findings authenticate the traditional claims about use of Moringa oleifera in treatment of epilepsy and anxiety.

Background:Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Flavonoids exert their antioxidant effects by neutralizing all types of oxidizing radicals including the superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Passiflora incarnata Linn. (Passifloraceae) is an important plant used in Ayurveda for the treatment of various disorders of the CNS and is a rich source of flavonoids.Aim:In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant, antiparkinsonian, and memory enhancing activity of flavonoid rich n-butanol extract of P. incarnata flowers (BEPIF).Materials and Methods:Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay. The antiparkinsonian activity was evaluated using haloperidol induced catalepsy and tacrine induced vacuous chewing movement and memory enhancing activity was assessed using elevated plus maze and object recognition test.Statistical Analysis:The results were analyzed by Analysis of Variance test followed by Dunnett’s test.Results:Administration of BEPIF decreased transfer latency on day 2 and 9 significantly in elevated plus maze test and showed a significant increase in discrimination index in the object recognition test which is suggestive of its cognitive improvement action. Pretreatment with BEPIF showed a significant reduction in the haloperidol induced catalepsy and the tacrine induced jaw movements which are suggestive of its antiparkinsonian activity. In DPPH and H2O2 scavenging assay, BEPIF exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity.Conclusions:It can be concluded that the butanolic extract of P. incarnata flowers has significant antiparkinsonian and cognition enhancing activity which may be associated with its antioxidant potential. Thus, P. incarnata flowers may be employed in treatment of dementia and parkinsonism.

Passiflora incarnata also known as 'Passion flower' is used as an anxiolytic and sedative throughout the world from ancient time. The plant is used as an analgesic, antispasmodic, sedative-hypnotic and narcotic. It is also used in neuralgia, epilepsy, insomnia, ulcers, haemorrhoids and neurosis in many parts of the world. There was no report on analgesic activity of P. incarnata. Hence, the present study is designed to assess analgesic activity of leaves of P. incarnata using sodium chloride-induced eye wiping test and formalin test. In formalin test, n-butanol extract of leaves of P. incarnata (BEPI) in the doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg as well as BEPI-F1 showed significant reduction in duration of paw licking in neurogenic and inflammatory phase(P<0.001). Pretreatment with naloxone reversed the analgesia induced by BEPI, while atropine did not reverse the analgesia induced by BEPI significantly (P≤0.001). In eye wiping test, BEPI in the doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg, i.p. exerted significant reduction (P≤0.001) in number of eye wipes compared to control group. Thus, the result concludes that BEPI and the fraction separated, BEPI-F1 has significant analgesic activity, which may be mediated through central mechanism by modulation of opioid receptors and nicotinic receptors.

Asthma is an allergic chronic inflammatory disorder of the lung presented clinically in the form bronchial obstruction due to hyper-responsive bronchial wall inflammation and bronchial smooth muscle constriction. Conventional anti-asthmatic drugs are associated with many adverse effcts as well as non-compliance and nonadherence to complicated drug regimens. Thus, to inhibit these adverse effects and to improve patient compliance, there is an unmet medical need for complementary therapies for asthma. Ayurveda has recommended a number of drugs from indigenous plant sources for the treatment of bronchial asthma and allergic disorders. Luffa cylindrica Linn has been traditionally claimed to be used in treatment of bronchitis, bronchial asthma, skin diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, fever, etc. Considering phytochemical profile & traditional claims of Luffa cylindrica, the present study was designed to study anti-asthmatic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Luffa cylindrica leaves (HAELC) using histamine induced contraction of goat tracheal chain, Clonidine induced catalepsy, Milk induced eosinophilia, Passive paw anaphylaxis and OVA induced airway inflammation. The total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and total alkaloid content was measured by colorimetric assay. In the present study, pretreatment with HAELC (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg p.o.) significantly inhibited clonidine induced catalepsy, decreased milk induced eosinophilia, inhibited passive paw anaphylaxis and decreased number of eosinophil and macrophage count in the BALF in OVA induced airway inflammation Moreover, histopathological analysis revealed that HAELC treatment suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the hyperplasia of goblet cells. Thus, the results confirmed anti-asthmatic potential of HAELC. From the results of present investigation, it can be concluded that HAELC possess significant anti-asthmatic activity which may be ascribed to its anti-allergic, bronchodilating, anti-histaminic, adaptogenic, and anti-inflammatory potential, confirming the traditional claim about Luffa cylindrica.