Antidepressant-like Potential of Sida tiagii Bhandari Fruits in Mice

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of different fruit extracts of Sida tiagii Bhandari (Family: Malvaceae), popularly known as Kharinti, on depressive behaviors in mice using forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Extracts were prepared by partitioning of 90% alcoholic extract with n-hexane (HS) and ethyl acetate (EAS) successively and were administered orally for 20 successive days to separate groups of Swiss young male albino mice. HS showed a dose dependent effect on immobility period while residual ethanolic extract (RES) showed the most potent antidepressant effect at all three doses. Chronic administration of EAS showed a variable effect (ineffective in TST while reversal in FST) at 200 and 500 mg/kg doses. RES significantly reduced the immobility times of mice in both FST and TST, without any significant effect on locomotive activity at all doses (100, 200, 500 mg/kg). The efficacy of RES was found to be comparable to that of imipramine (15 mg/kg p.o.) and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg p.o.). Sulpiride (50 mg/kg i.p.; a selective D2-receptor antagonist), baclofen [10 mg/kg, i.p., a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAB) agonist] and prazosin (62.5 mg/kg i.p.; an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist) significantly attenuated the extract (RES) induced antidepressant-like effect in TST. The monoamine oxidase inhibiting effect and lipid peroxidation inhibiting effect of Sida tiagii (S. tiagii) may contribute favorably to the antidepressant-like activity. Thus, it is concluded that S. tiagii extract may possess an antidepressant-like effect.