Effects of the mulberry leaf extract on depression-like behavior in mice / 国际药学研究杂志

Objective: To investigate the antidepressant effect and mechanism of the extract of mulberry leaf(EML). Methods: Male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to receive EML(100, 200 and 400 mg/kg)or vehicle for 7 days or single administration by intragastric(ig)route. The effect of EML on spontaneous activity in mice was evaluated using the open field test. The anti-depressant activity of EML was evaluated using the tail suspension test and forced swimming test. After single ig administration of EML (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), the effects of EML on the function central monoaminergic nervous system were evaluated using the 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan(5-HTP)induced head-twitch test, yohimbine toxicity potentiation test and reserpine test in mice. Results: In the behavioral despair model, the continuous administration of EML(100 mg/kg)for 7 days significantly reduced the immobility time in the tail suspension test and forced swimming test. Compared with the vehicle group, the inhibitory rates of immobility time were 35.5% and 41%(P<0.05, P<0.01)in the tail suspension test and forced swimming test, respectively. The single treatment with EML(400 mg/kg)also significantly reduced the immobility time in the tail suspension and forced swimming test, and the inhibitory rates of immobility time were 29.1% and 35.3%, respectively(P<0.05). The results of spontaneous activity test showed that EML had no excitatory or inhibitory effect on the central nervous system in mice. In the 5-HTP induced head-twitch test in mice, the single treatment with EML(100 mg/kg)significantly increased the number of head-twitches in mice. In the yohimbine toxicity potentiation test, the single treatment with EML(100, 200 and 400 mg/kg)had no significant effect on the mortality rate in yohimbin-treated mice. In the reserpine test, compared with the model group, the single treatment with EML(400 mg/kg)antagonized reserpine induced ptosis (P<0.05)and had no significant effect on the decrease in rectal temperature and akinesia. Conclusion: EML showed antidepressant effect, and the action mechanism was likely related to the enhancement of the function of serotonergic nervous system.

The protective effect of L. siceraria against depression using behavioural despair animal models

Background: In recent years, the search for novel pharmacotherapy from medicinal plants for psychiatric illness was significantly progressed. The present study was performed to evaluate the antidepressant activity of ethanolic extract of Lagenaria siceraria in animal models.Methods: The antidepressant activity of ethanolic extract of the fruit of L. siceraria in rats was assessed using forced swim test and tail suspension test. Imipramine at 15 mg/kg was used as standard antidepressant drug.Results: The ethanolic extract of L. siceraria fruit (EELS) was significantly and dose-dependently reduced the duration of immobility after repeated treatment for 7 days in Forced swim test and Tail suspension Test. But combination of L. siceraria (200mg/kg) with Imipramine gave a highly significant result (p<0.001) in reduction of immobility duration and the effect of high dose (400mg/kg) with imipramine (15mg/kg) did not decrease the duration of immobility period in both animal models at end of the study. In this work the dose of 400mg/kg afforded more protection than the imipramine.Conclusions: The results obtained from this study was indicate that the antidepressant activity of L. siseraria.