Antidepressant, anxiolytic and adaptogenic activity of torvanol A: an isoflavonoid from seeds of Solanum torvum

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of torvanol A (10 and 30 mg/kg) isolated from Solanum torvum as antidepressant, anxiolytic and adaptogenic. Forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), elevated plus maze (EPM) test, light dark apparatus (LDA), pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions model and chronic stress-induced behavioural despair test were used. Torvanol A significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the immobility period, increased the time spent in open arms and entries in open arms, decreased the time spent in closed arms, increased the time spent in light area and decreased the time spent in dark area. Combination of torvanol A with various antagonists – prazocin(62.5 μg/kg, i.p.), para chloro phenyl alanine (pCPA) (100 mg/kg, i.p.) and haloperidol (50 μg/kg, i.p.) – has also produced the same effect in various behavioural parameters in FST, TST, EPM and LDA as the respective antagonists. This suggests involvement of noradrenergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic and gabaergic mechanisms.