Abstract:
The fruits of Mormodica dioica Roxb. (Family:
cucurbitaceae and referred to as Thumba KarawJla in
Sinhalese and Thumbai in Tamil) have been used in traditional
medicine in Sri L a n k a as a stomachic, laxative and
antipyretic, and also to treat jaundice, leprosy, tuberculosis,
hypersativation and certain heart conditions [1]. One of the
reasons for the use of M. dioica fruits as a stomachic could
be their analgesic activity. A s yet, this possibility has not been
tested.
This study was initiated to investigate the analgesic
potential of M. dioica fruits using an aqueous crude extract
and rals as the test animals.
