Background: Psychological problem is a key medical issue for numerous neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, for example, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, dementia, seizure and Parkinsonism. Morinda citrifolia (Noni) has been utilized for a considerable length of time to cure or counteract assortment of diseases by conventional therapeutic professionals in Hawaii and Polynesia. Objective: The present study is focused to identify the neuroprotective activity of Morinda citrifolia fruit extract (MCFE) on in vitro and ex vivo animal model by inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme target used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Methods: Acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay was performed by in vitro & ex vivo methods as described by Ellman et al. In vitro antioxidant assay of the extract was performed by DPPH free radical scavenging activity & nitric oxide scavenging activity. Statistical analysis used: Statistical analysis was carried out using non linear regression analysis for plotting the line of best fit for the observed values using GraphPad Prism software. Results: By performing in vitro antioxidant assay the IC 50 value of the standard quercetin was found to be 46.22 µg/ml as compared to the MCFE which has an IC 50 value of 43.14 µg/ml for DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Similarly the IC 50 value of the standard ascorbic acid was found to be 81.85 µg/ml as compared to the MCFE which has an IC 50 value of 148.0 µg/ml for nitric oxide scavenging activity. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay was performed by in vitro method and the IC 50 value of MCFE and neostigmine was found to be 31.84 µg/ml & 19.71 µg/ml respectively. Conclusions: The present study investigated the neuroprotective activity of MCFE and it was identified by both in vitro and ex vivo techniques that the phytoconstituents has the ability to improve the learning and memory function by inhibiting the acetylcholinesterase. Key words:Morinda citrifolia, Noni, Acetylcholinesterase, Neuroprotective activity, in vitro, ex vivo. Key Messages: The present study investigated the neuroprotective activity of Morinda citrifolia and it was identified by both in vitro and ex vivo techniques that the phytoconstituents in the plant can improve the learning and memory function by inhibiting the acetylcholinesterase. Further the antioxidant potential of the plant was also evident from the DPPH and nitric oxide scavenging activity. Future studies may be designed for chronic administration of Morinda citrifolia to further investigate the effect on in vivo experimentation and also to identify the safety and efficacy parameters at both preclinical and clinical stages.

The stem bark of the plant Symplocos crataegoides Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don, Fam. Symplocaceae is extensively used in Indian medicine under the names of Lodhra/Patikalodhra. S. crataegoides is a deciduous shrub or a tree, distributed in the Himalayas from Punjab to Assam, Khasi hills and Burma. 1,2 As per Ayurvedic references the term Lodhra denotes the stem bark of Symplocos racemosa/Symplocos crataegoides and considered as most useful remedy for uterine complaints, vaginal and menstrual disorders. In Sanskrit the name Lodhra means that it stops ocular discharges. The drug is useful in digestive disorders, eye diseases and ulcers. Decoction of the bark is used as a gargle in bleeding gums. Its astringent property is utilized for curing loose motions. It is used as aphrodisiac, useful in dropsy, elephantiasis and in fat in urine (Lipiduria). The bark is used in the treatment of opthalmia, tonic and to prevent abortion. 1,3-7 The important Ayurvedic formulations in which Lodhra is used as one of the ingredients are Lodhrasavam, Gandhatailam, Dasamularistam, Draksadi kasayam, Pusyanugacurnam, etc. 8 The Nyagrodhadi Kvatha Curna contains both Symplocos racemosa and Symplocos GC-MS Analysis of n-hexane Extract of Stem Bark of Symplocos crataegoides Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don ABSTRACT Context: The stem barks of the plant Symplocos crataegoides Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don (syn. Symplocos paniculata (Thunb.) Miq.), Fam. Symplocaceae is extensively used in Indian medicine under the names of Lodhra/Patikalodhra. Mainly it is used to cure uterine complaints, vaginal and menstrual disorders. Aim: To investigate the phytochemicals from the n-hexane extract of the stem bark of Symplocos crataegoides Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don., using GC-MS analysis. Materials and Methods: Stem bark of S.crataegoides was extracted by Soxhlet extraction method using n-hexane. The extract was injected by splitless injection mode into the GC MS 5975 C Agilent equipped with a QP-5000 (quadrupole) Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer. Results: Identification of 57 compounds from n-hexane extract. Those compounds were identified by close matches with standard MS spectra and compared with NIST-11 and WILEY library data. Undecane (7.51%) was found as major compound followed by Isopropyl myristate, Dodecane, 1,2,4-trimethyl-benzene, Octacosane, 2-methyl-decane, 2-ethyl-1,2-dimethyl-benzene, 1,2,3,5-tetramethyl-benzene etc., other constituents were found to be in traceable quantities. Conclusion: GC-MS analysis of S. crataegoides revealed certain interesting facts of presentation of various phytoconstituents in the stem bark. The presence of various phytoconstituents contributes to the medicinal activity of the plant.

ABSTRACT

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis with a prevalence of 1-2% in developed countries. The major objectives in chronic gout management are to keep the serum uric acid level towards normal, prevent joint damage due to hyperuricemia and further occurr ence as well as to promote the dissolution of existing uric acid crystals as well as prevent new crystal formation. The present work is aimed at in-vitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity between the enzyme xanthine oxidase isolated from bovine milk and Morinda citrifolia fruit extract and comparing against standard drug allopurinol. Further the activity would be ascertained by molecular docking studies of phytoconstituents identified in Morinda citrifolia fruit extract on xanthine oxidase obtained from protein data bank using Molegro virtual docker. The IC50 values were found to be 178.6µg/ml and 99.6 µg/ml for Morinda citrifolia fruit extract and allopurinol respectively. From the docking studies based on the MolDock score, Bisdemethylpinoresinol, Asperulosidic acid, Aucubin, Rutin and Americanin A were found to be the most effective phytoconstituents to bind with the selected xanthine oxidase enzyme as compared to the standard drugs. In conclusion, the extract of Morinda citrifolia was found to possess appreciable hypouricemic activity where one or more of the phytoconstituents present in the extract may be responsible for the activity. Further in vivo studies are required to confirm the hypouricemic activity of Morinda citrifolia fruit extract.