Antidepressant-Like Activity of Banana Peel Extract in Mice

Wei-Jun Wei-Jun

doi:10.3844/amjsp.2011.59.64

Abstract

Problem statement: Depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feeling guilty, low selfesteem, sleep disturbance, loss of appetite, low energy and poor concentration are the characteristics of depression. This common mental disorder can occur in anyone regardless of genders, ages and backgrounds. People counteract it with psychotherapy and medications. Alternatively, some patients use herbal remedies as treatments. Recently, natural herbal products that have antidepressant effect has gain more attention in the market. Banana peel is commonly used to treat warts, as diuretics, aids in detoxification and relive hangovers. This research was conducted to study the effects of banana peel extract against depression. Approach: Swiss Albino mice were used in this study. Acute Toxicity Study (ATS) was being carried out by injecting 4 doses of the green and yellow banana peel extract each to different mice groups. Six groups of mice were treated with different treatments (normal saline 5 mL kg-1, green banana peel extract 200 and 400 mg kg-1, yellow banana peel extract 200 and 400 mg kg-1, Fluoxetine HCl 20mg kg-1, p.o.) for 7 consecutive days before mice were subjected for Forced Swim Test (FST) and Tail Suspension Test (TST). Results: The result shows that green banana peel extract 400 mg kg-1 significantly reduces the duration of immobility (p<0.01) compared to control in FST. In TST, green banana peel extract 400 mg kg-1 and yellow banana peel extract (200 and 400 mg kg-1) showed significant result (p<0.001) compared to control. There were no signs of acute toxicity observed for the extracts in ATS. Conclusion/Recommendations: This research suggested that the banana peel extracts exhibits antidepressant-like effects. Further studies maybe conducted on locomotor activity study and phytochemical screening.

Highlights

Depression is a significant public health problem that can occur to anyone and are likely to occur on adults in between the age of 20-50 years old with no relations to race, education status, civil status or income (WHO, 2010; Khandelwal et al, 2001)
Other nutrients contain inside banana peels are proteins, fats, starch contents, Forced Swim Test (FST): The animal was divided into potassium, iron, calcium and others inorganic elements six groups and each group comprised of six mice
Acute toxicity study: All of the mice used in this study did not show any sign of acute toxicity during the 48 h observation

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Depression is a significant public health problem that can occur to anyone and are likely to occur on adults in between the age of 20-50 years old with no relations to race, education status, civil status or income (WHO, 2010; Khandelwal et al, 2001). Depending on the nature and severity of the symptoms, depression is classified into mild, moderate and severe depression (NIMH, 2008; American Psychiatric Association DSMV-IV, 2000) It can be reliably diagnosed and treated in primary care, the treatment with medication and brief structured psychotherapy is effective for 60-80% of those affected by depression fewer than 25% of the affected people have access to the effective treatments (WHO, 2010). Several classes of antidepressant are being used to treat depressions but they have side effects such as blurred vision, restlessness, nervousness, sexual problems, agitation and suicidal thoughts (Department of Health and Ageing, 2003; Kahn et al, 2001; NIMH, 2008). Other nutrients contain inside banana peels are proteins, fats, starch contents, Forced Swim Test (FST): The animal was divided into potassium, iron, calcium and others inorganic elements six groups and each group comprised of six mice. Cavendish banana peel extract in treating depressed before the day of experiment (Table 1).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION