Neuropharmacological evaluation of different species of Curcubitaceae seeds extract in experimental animals

Major depressive disorders such as anxiety and depression is predominantly developed in the modern era due to stressful lifestyle and now become the second leading cause of disability. The purpose of the current investigation to evaluate and compared the neuropharmacological effects of three different varaities of Cucurbitaceae seeds including Cucumis Melo var. flexuosus, Cucumis melo var. reticulatus and Santa claus melons ethanol seed extract in experimental animals at three different doses, i.e. 25, 50 and 100mg/kg in animals after 60 days of oral administration. Afterward, various neuropharphamcological activities such as general behavior, phenobarbitone induced sleeping time and exploratory behavior (Elevated plus-maze and head dip test) and motor coordination by Rotarod test were assessed and compared with the control group. The extracts producing dose depended effects on central nervous system. The general behavior profile revealed significant depression at maximum doses. At maximum dose 100mg/kg of Cucumis reticulatus and Santa Claus, seed extracts significantly increases the number of entries in open arms. On the other hand, the Cucumis flexuosus seed extract significantly increases the frequency of numbers of head dips in mice. However, the lower doses of the extracts showed less significant results. The results suggested that all extracts at maximum doses produces anxiolytic effects without affecting the motor coordination in animals.