Analgesic activity of Mormodica dioica fruit extract in rats

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.