Antidepressant-like effect of aqueous extract from Rosa damascena in mice

ABSTRACT

Rosa damascena mill L [R. damascena] is an ornamental plant that has several therapeutic [such as sedative and hypnotic] effects. It also heals depression, grief, nervous stress and tension. In the present study we evaluated antidepressant-like effect of R. damascena using forced swimming test [FST]. Three doses of aqueous extract [15, 60 and 90 mg/kg] was injected intraperitoneally. After 30 min of injection, immobility and swimming times were measured and compared with control [negative control] and imipramine [positive control]. The results showed that low dose [15mg/kg] of extract significantly increased swimming time and decreased immobility time. However, the two high doses of extract [60 and 90mg/kg] had no significant effect on these parameters. These results proposed antidepressant-like effect of low concentration of aqueous extract of R. damascena