Epilepsy is a chronic and often progressive disorder characterized by the periodic and unpredictable occurrence of epileptic seizures, i.e., involuntary contraction of striated muscle repeatedly. Convulsion arises due to sudden excessive and rapid discharge of cerebral neurons in the grey matter of the brain.

Context: Coccinia indica Naud (Cucurbitaceae) has been traditionally used for the treatment of depression but these claims have not been validated. Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate antidepressant activity of various extracts and fractions of C. indica aerial parts, and to estimate content of quercetin in the plant using TLC densitometry. Materials and methods: Coccinia indica aerial parts were successively extracted using solvents in increasing order of polarity, namely n-hexane, chloroform, methanol, and water. Various extracts were evaluated for antidepressant activity at doses of 200 or 400 mg/kg, p.o., upon acute administration in mice using the forced swim test (FST). The bioactive extract was partitioned successively using solvents in increasing order of polarity, namely n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. All fractions were also screened for antidepressant activity at doses of 25 or 50 mg/kg, p.o., upon acute administration in mice. Results: The methanol extract significantly reduced the duration of immobility in FST at dose of 400 mg/kg without affecting locomotor activity in open field test, thus, confirmed its antidepressant activity, which was statistically equivalent to the standard drug (imipramine, 15 mg/kg, i.p.). Ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) exhibited antidepressant activity at 50 mg/kg. Comparative TLC fingerprint studies confirmed the presence of quercetin in methanol extract and EAF. Quercetin was used as a chemical marker to standardize C. indica aerial parts using the validated TLC densitometric method, and the content of quercetin was found to be 0.00172% w/w. Conclusions: The present studies scientifically validated traditional claims of C. indica for antidepressant activity.

Background and Objective: Coccinia indica Wight. and Arn (Ivy gourd, family Cucurbitaceae) has a long tradition of use in the treatment of various ailments. Ayurveda and Unani systems claim C. indica as antidiabetic agent. Therefore the present investigation was aimed to evaluate antidiabetic activity of isolated compound(s) from C. indica. Materials and Methods: Methanol extract of C. indica aerial parts was prepared by Soxhlet extraction method and ethyl acetate fraction was prepared by partitioning of methanol extract. Ethyl acetate fraction was subjected to antidiabetic activity-guidedfractionation using column chromatography for the isolation of antidiabetic compound(s). Various fractions and isolated compounds were screened for antidiabetic activity using streptozotocin-nicotinamide type-2 diabetic model. The glucose level in rats was determined using glucometer. The antidiabetic biochemical estimations were performed on bioactive isolated compound. Results: Bioactivity-guided-fractionation yielded a bioflavonoid quercetin, which has been isolated for the first time from C. indica aerial parts. Quercetin (5 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced the glucose levels in type-2 diabetic rats but did not produce hypoglycemic effects in oral glucose tolerance test on normal rats. Quercetin significantly increased insulin and serum HDL-cholesterol levels and showed better β-cell functions. Quercetin caused slight change in hepatic marker enzymes and kidney functions markers in diabetic rats. Conclusion: Quercetin is responsible for antidiabetic activity of C. indica aerial parts.

Traditionally, aerial parts of Abies pindrow Royle (Himalayan Fir; Pinaceae); Abies webbiana Lindl. (Talispatra; Pinaceae); Cephalandra indica Naud. (Ivy Gourd; Cucurbitaceae) and roots of Calotropis gigantea (L.) Dryand (Giant Milkweed; Asclepiadaceae) have been used in the Indian systems of medicine for the treatment of various ailments. But no systematic phytochemical work has ever been carried out on these potential plants. Thus, it was planned to estimate total phenols and flavonoids content in methanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) and remaining methanol extract (RME) of selected plants. Properly identified plants were defatted with petroleum ether, and then separately extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus with methanol. The methanol extract of each plant was partitioned by ethyl acetate solvent to obtain EAF of respective plant. The total phenols and flavonoids contents were estimated using standardized procedures. Quantitative determination of total phenols and total flavonoids was done using standard curve of gallic acid (linearity: 20 to 120 mg/ml; r 2 = 0.995) and quercetin (linearity: 30 to 180 mg/ml; r 2 = 0.997), respectively. EAF of selected plants contained higher content of phenols and flavonoids, where as lowest content was observed in RME of plants. The content of total phenols and flavonoids in selected plants were found to be in order of C. indica > A. webbiana > A. pindrow > C. gigantea. The available literature reveals that polyphenols have been reported to possess varied pharmacological activities. As selected Indian plants contain polyphenols as major class of phytoconstituents, it is suggested that these constituents may be responsible for their medicinal uses.

Diabetes has a global prevalence in developed countries and rapidly flexing its roots in middle-and low-income countries. According to the World Health Organization, it is a major cause of kidney collapse, heart problems, and lower limb amputation. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder showing an uncontrolled increase in blood glucose levels. To date, no permanent cure has been developed for the complete restoration of impaired glucose haemostasis. With the use of therapeutic agents and nontherapeutic agents, glucose levels can be kept in control for a very long time. The foremost goal of all current ongoing treatments is to control high blood glucose levels, reduction in elevated lipid levels, and delay in the progression of diabetes-related complications. Various therapeutics agents are developed in recent decades, which shown very promising results in the management of diabetes mellitus. These agents prescribed after reviewing the clinical symptoms and situation of an individual patient. This review compiles noteworthy information related to clinically approved medicaments for diabetes mellitus. Review emphasis on categorization, mechanism of action, noted adverse effects along with the physiological responses of used medicines to treat diabetes mellitus.