LC-MS/MS GUIDED ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF NEURO POTENT PHYTOCONSTITUENTS FROM CHLOROFORM FRACTION OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF LAGENARIA SICERARIA (BOTTLE GOURD) FRUITS AND EVALUATION OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER IN MURINE MODELS

Context: Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most common neurological illness worldwide. Marble burying behavior in murine models is a unique and precise model for the assessment of anti-OCD like action of the tested drug. Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standley (LS), popularly known as “bottle gourd”, is a potent indigenous vegetable plant with high therapeutic value. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-OCD (anti-compulsive) effects of the methanolic extract of LS fruits (MLSF) and the phytosterol rich Chloroform fraction of methanolic extract of LS fruits (CFMLS) using the marble-burying test in mice. Materials and Methods: The screening of anti-OCD action was carried out on Swiss Albino mice. Moreover LC-MS/MS analysis was carried out for the isolation and identification of the bioactive phytoconstituents responsible for the anti-OCD like effect of CFMLS. Results and Conclusions: MLSF and CFMLS, at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, p.o., decreased the total number of buried marbles in dose dependent manner. At dose of 400 mg/ kg, CFMLS exhibited the most significant (P<0.001) effect, which was comparable to that of the fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.), reference standard drug. Moreover, none of the tested drug produced any kind of overt motor dysfunction. The results of phytochemical screening of MLSF and CFMLS showed the presence of phytoconstituents like sterols, terpenoids, and traces of flavonoids. Further LC-MS/MS analysis of the CFMLS revealed the presence of a total of 4 bioactive phytocompounds viz. Luteolin (I), β-sitosterol (II), Gamma sitosterol monohydatre (III), and Pregnane-3, 20-diol (IV). Among them Gamma-sitosterol monohydatre (III) and Pregnane-3, 20-diol (IV) were reported for the first time in LS fruits.