Abstract

EVALUATION OF ANTIDEPRESSANT, ANTIDIARRHEAL AND ANTIULCERANT ACTIVITIES OF HYDNOCARPUS KURZII LEAF EXTRACTS

Yesmin Begum*, Fatema Nasrin, Shirajum Munira, Farzana Yasmin and Shirajuddin Ahmed

ABSTRACT

Hydnocarpus kurzii commonly known as Chaulmugra, found in hill tract areas, are commonly used for the treatment of leprosy and skin diseases for their high medicinal value. The methanolic leaf extract of H. kurzii was subjected to perform anti-ulcerant, anti-diarrheal and anti-depressant investigation in albino rats. Anti-ulcerant activity of H. kurzii leaf extracts (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) was evaluated against ethanol induced gastric mucosal injury using omeprazole (20 mg/kg) as standard. In the histological study of rat’s stomach showed significant prevention of gastric haemorrhage and edema with dose 600 mg/kg. The leaf extracts (100, 150 mg/kg) were also subjected to Forced swim test to investigate anti-depressant activity using clonazepam (10 mg/kg) as standard. The test showed considerable anti-depressant activity with 31.77% and 41.74% inhibition of 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg doses respectively. Castor oil induced diarrheal models were used to evaluate anti-diarrheal activity of the extracts at doses of 100 and 150 mg/kg using Loperamide (3 mg/kg) as standard. The extracts showed statistically significant (p*˂0.05) anti-diarrheal activity with 66.66% and 88.88% inhibition of 100 mg/kg and 150mg/kg doses respectively. These results showed that H. kurzii leaf significantly reduces haemorrhage and inflammation of gastrointestinal ulcer by regeneration of mucosal layer and showed potential anti-diarrheal activity.

Keywords: Hydnocarpus kurzii, antidepressant, anti ulcerant.