Evaluation of Antidepressant Activity of Leaf Extract of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn in mice

Abstract

Depression is mood disturbances that causes a continuous feeling of unhappiness, changes in behavior, unable to concentrate and loss of interest. Chronic exposure to stressful events plays very important role in the etiology of depression. Curculigoorchioides is a medicinally important plant that is used widely in ayurvedic system of medicine and Chinese traditional systems. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antidepressant activity of the Curculigoorchioides leaf extract in mice exposed to acute stress in different behavioural models like forced swimming test, tail suspension test, 5-Hydroxy Tryptamine (5-HTP) induced head twitches. The effect of the extract on brain lipid peroxidation was also assessed by invitro estimation of malondialdehyde levels. After the oral administration of leaf extract of Curculigoorchioides at the dose of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg to the mice antidepressant activity was compared with the standarddrug imipramine (10mg/kg). The Curculigoorchioides leaf extract showed significant reduction in immobility time and increased number of 5-Hydroxy Tryptamine induced head twitchesin dose-dependent manner. Significant antidepressant activity of Curculigoorchioides leaf extract was observed at the dose of 100mg/kg which was evident by the reduced duration of immobility in forced swimming and tail suspension test. Extract treatedgroups showed reduced brain lipid peroxidation indicated by decrease in malondialdehyde content. Hence Curculigoorchioidesleaf extract possess antidepressant activity.