Antidepressant activity of Calluna vulgaris L. (Hull.) herb extracts

Abstract

Topicality. Today, anxiety is becoming more urgent, due to the changes in social sphere, the intensity of life rhythm and other factors. Therefore, it is relevant to research new medicines based on medicinal herbal raw materials with anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects. The common heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull.) as a prospective species for the Ericaceae family, is also used in many countries as a source of sedative, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents.Aim. To investigate the water-alcohol and water extracts effect of heather grass on behavioral and emotional reactions in “Porsolt tests” and “Tail suspension test”.Materials and methods. The antidepressant effect of Calluna vulgaris L. extracts in “Tail suspension test” and “Porsolt’s” test studied.Results and discussion. In the “Tail suspension test” when the animals were administered with water-alcohol and water extracts, the total time of immobilization was reduced. The latent period of the first freezing during the introduction of water-alcohol extract was 1.25 times shorter than control. The latent period was longer in 1.14 times the control when the aqueous extract was administered. The total immobility at the administration of water-alcohol extract was the smallest (32.57 s). In the “Porsolt’s test” the water-alcohol extract of the Calluna vulgaris (L.) herb exhibits the highest antidepressant activity on the 1st and 3rd day of the experiment, as evidenced by the largest number of active swimming (190.29 s and 99.57 s) and the least time of immobilization (13.71 s and 15.14 s).Conclusions. Passive swimming time during the administration of the water-alcohol extract of the Calluna vulgaris (L.) herb was the smallest on the 1st day of the experiment (156 s). It has been established that water and water-alcohol extracts of Calluna vulgaris L. herb have antidepressant effect and are superior in activity to St. John’s wort.