404–412 Noni (Morinda citrifolia Linn.) Fruit Extract Protects Against Non-precipitated Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms in Mice

Background: Noni (Morinda citrifolia Linn.) fruit has a long history of traditional use for treating several health conditions, including symptoms of major depression and anxiety. Objectives: This study focused on evaluating the therapeutic potential of the methanolic extract of Morinda citrifolia Linn. fruit (MMC) and its ethyl acetate fraction (EAMMC) against alcohol withdrawal-induced symptoms like convulsion, anxiety, and anhedonia in mice using handling-induced convulsion (HIC), elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), marble burying test (MBT), and sucrose preference test (SPT), respectively. Materials and Methods: Swiss albino mice (male) weighing 30–35 g were used. Animals were grouped as saline withdrawn (SW) control alcohol withdrawn (AW), control, positive control (AW + diazepam 1 mg/kg i.p.), and MMC- and EAMMC- treated groups (AW + MMC 500 and 1,000; AW + 50 and 100 mg/kg p.o.), respectively. All test groups intraperitoneally received 1.25 mL/100 g b.w. of (20% v/v ethanol + 0.1% v/v 4-methylpyrazole) except the SW group, which received saline (1.25 mL/100 g, i.p.) instead of ethanol twice a day for 3 days. HIC, OFT, EPM, MBT, and SPT were performed subsequently. Results: These results reveal that MMC (500 and 1,000 mg/kg p.o.) and EAMMC (50 and 100 mg/kg p.o.) attenuated the handling-induced seizures (HIS), anxiety, and anhedonia in AW mice by facilitating the benzodiazepine-GABAAergic and serotonergic (5-HT1A) mediated mechanisms in the brain. Conclusion: MMC and EAMMC protect against alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as handling seizures, anxiety, and anhedonia in mice.