Noni ( <i>Morinda citrifolia</i> 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. Purpose 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 Animals were grouped as saline withdrawn (SW) control alcohol withdrawn (AW), control, positive control (AW + diazepam 1 mg/kg i.p.), and MMC- and EAMMC-treated groups (AW + MMC 500 and 1,000; AW + 50 and 100 mg/kg p.o.),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.