Résumé
The current study was aimed at exploring the folkloric use of Cuscuta reflexa dodder a parasitic plant [family convolulaceae] against depression. Briefly, the methanolic extract of C. reflexa vine was assessed for antidepressant action using various behavioral paradigms such as tail suspension test [TST], forced swim test [FST] and locomotor activity test. The serotonergic and noradrenergic changes were evaluated using 5-hydroxytryptophan [5-HTP] induced head twitches and yohimbine potentiation tests, respectively. The fluoxetine and phenelzine were used as positive controls in the study. Our data demonstrated that the C. reflexa extract significantly declined the immobility time in TST [EC[50] 50 mg/kg] and FST without affecting the locomotor counts
The extract also significantly increased the 5-HTP induced head twitches and yohimbine induced lethality. The aforesaid behavioral outcomes were similar to that caused by standard drug phenelzine [monoamine oxidase inhibitor, MAOI]. It is known that quercetin is an inhibitor of MAO and also the constituent of C. reflexa. Our HPLC data confirmed the presence of quercetin [0.156 mg/25 mg of extract; retention time = 2.1 minutes] in the extract and was used in present study. In conclusion, the present study validate the folkloric use of C. reflexa as an antidepressant and this effect can be attributed to quercetin mediated rise in neuronal serotonin and noradrenaline levels possibly via MAO inhibition