Adaptogenic activity of Lagenaria siceraria: An experimental study using acute stress models on rats

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-stress potential of ethanolic extract of fruits of Lagenaria siceraria in rats. The present study was to investigate the influence of forced swimming endurance stress on swimming endurance time, organ weights and changes in biochemical parameters in rats. The purpose of the study was also to investigate the acute heat stress induced changes in biochemical parameters, adrenal gland weight and stress induced perturbations in blood cell counts in albino Wistar rats. These activities were tested at oral doses of 100-400 mg kg-1 of the extract using Withania somnifera as a standard reference drug. Pretreatment with the extract at different doses significantly (p<0.05) ameliorated the s tress-induced variations in this biochemical parameters-serum glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, BUN and Cortisol levels, blood cell counts and organ weights in these stress models. The extract treated animals also showed increase in swimming endurance time. This ability of Lagenaria siceraria to prolong the swimming time and ameliorate the stress induced changes in both stress models, therefore, suggests an antistress and adaptogenic property. © 2009 Academic Journals Inc.