Abstract
The methanolic extract of Citrus limetta leaves was estimated in the present study for antidepressant activity. This activity was evaluated by using the rat behavioral model i.e. forced swimming and tail suspension model for 14 days, with estimation of neurotransmitters in animals brain. The sedative effect was evaluated by actophotometer. The extract (200 mg/kg) administered orally showed significant (p<0.05) decrease in immobility time against the standard drug fluoxetine (20 mg/kg, i.p), and imipramine (15 mg/kg, i.p.) respectively but no significant reduction was found in the locomotor activity against diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.). In depression, the brain reflected low monoamines level like release of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin but 14 days after successive administration of the extract, their levels were significantly increased. In conclusion, C. limetta showed significant antidepressant activity. 
 Video Clip of Methodology:
 Forced swimming test: 6 min 17 sec: Full Screen Alternate
Highlights
Depression is considered as a mood disorder in which mixed feelings of sadness, loss of appetite, frustration, fatigue and anger interfere with day to day life
A variety of vital bioflavonoids like hesperidin, narirutin, naringin, neohesperidin, eriocitrin, neoeriocitrin, rutin, diosmin, neoponcirin, and nobiletin are abundant in these citrus plants and have proved their efficacy as most prominent cancer preventing agents (Albach et al, 1969; Castillo et al, 1992; Jourdan et al, 1985; Kawaii et al, 1999)
The single administration of all extracts of C. limetta viz. petroleum ether, chloroform and aqueous at all dosage range used failed to show any significant changes on the percentage of changes of immobility time but the methanolic extract at dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg markedly decreased the immobility time in both the models after repeated once daily treatment for 14 days (Table II)
Summary
Depression is considered as a mood disorder in which mixed feelings of sadness, loss of appetite, frustration, fatigue and anger interfere with day to day life. Amongst the citrus bioactive flavonoids, the flavanone and polymethoxy flavones glycosides attract significant attention for their constituents and biological activities (Tripoli et al, 2007). They possess a wide variety of biological activities through inhibition of key enzymes in mitochondrial respiration like in treatment of coronary heart disease, anti-spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory, free radical scavengers, estrogenic, cytotoxic, antitumor, antihyperglycemic, larvicidal, antifungal and antibacterial activities You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor
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