Objective: The present is to evaluate antidepressant activity of ethanolic extract of Hibiscus rosa sinensis leaves using experimental animals. Method: The current study employed male Swiss albino mice weighing between 20 and 35 g and aged between 6 and 8 weeks. Hibiscus rosa sinensis extract were administered p.o to mice daily in two different doses (200 & 400 mg/kg/p.o) for 14 days regularly. After administration of the extract, the animal will be observed continuously for the first 2 hours and at 24 hrs to detect changes in behavioral responses and also for tremors, convulsion, salivation, diarrhea, lethargy, sleep, and coma and also will be monitored up to 14 days for the toxic symptoms and mortality. On 15th days, the animal subjected to Tail Suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) and plasma corticosterone level. Result: The mice of Hibiscus rosa sinensis extract (200 & 400 mg/kg/p.o) treated group showed no significantly (p<0.05) difference in locomotors activity as compared to control group. Treatment with FXT (10 mg/kg p.o.)also showed no significant change as compared to control group. The above observation suggests that Hibiscus rosa sinensis leaves has antidepressant activity. Conclusion: The Ethanolic extract of Hibiscus rosa sinensis 400 mg/kg showed the most remarkable activity. This plant can be further subjected to isolation of the therapeutic Antidepressant compound and carry out further pharmacological evaluation. Keywords: Depression, herbal medications. Hibiscus rosa sinensis, antidepressant plants
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