Evaluation of anti-compulsive effect of methanolic extract of Benincasa hispida Cogn. fruit in mice.

摘要

Benincasa hispida Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae) commonly known as wax gourd (1) is an important ingredient of kushmanda lehyam, an Ayurvedic medicine widely used as rejuvenative agent (Rasayana) in treatment of epilepsy and other nervous disorders (2). In Ayurvedic system of medicine, Benincasa hispida fruits are used for treatment of schizophrenia and other psychologic disorders (3). Methanolic extract of Benincasa hispida fruit has been demonstrated to possess nootropic, anti-depressant and anxiolytic like effect (4, 5), which suggests that Benincasa hispida influences various neurotransmitter systems including serotonergic system.