EFEK BUAH PARE (MOMORDICA CHARANTIA L.) TERHADAP DEPRESSION-LIKE BEHAVIOR DAN KADAR NEUROTRANSMITER PADA MENCIT DDY YANG DIUJI DENGAN METODE OPEN FIELD TEST

• Main Author: Abdul Jabar, Agisna
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/61917
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

One of the consequences of COVID -19 pandemic is the increased prevalence of depressive disorder. One mode to treat depressive disorder is pharmacological therapy, such as the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. However, with the incidence of adverse drug reactions, some have turned to natural products, and bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is one of them. This study aimed to determine the activity as well as effective dose of bitter melon fruit as a candidate of antidepressive drug based on observation of depression-like behavior through evaluation of locomotor activity and the measurement of brain neurotransmitter measurement. Male ddY mice were assigned to groups receiving vehicle (carboxymethylcellulose 1%); reference drug (Fluoxetine hydrochloride); and low (50 mg/kg), intermediate (100 mg/kg), and high (200 mg/kg) doses of bitter melon respectively. Test substances were administered for 14 days. Locomotor activities (total distances traveled, time in center and corners, rearing, and grooming) were observed by open field test (OFT) on days 7 and 14. On day 14, the hippocampal and prefrontal cortical neurotransmitter measurements were carried out using ELISA. Observation of bitter melon fruits showed the tendency of decreased depressive-like behavior accompanied by increased neurotransmitter and decreased cortisol levels. Overall, the results of the present study show that bitter melon has anti-depressive activity with the possible dose in the range of 50 –100 mg/kg.