Humaira Majeed Khan
Lahore College for Women University, Pakistan
Title: Evaluation Of Anxiolytic And Antidepressant Activities Of Terminalia Bellirica Leaves In Different Animal Models
Biography
Biography: Humaira Majeed Khan
Abstract
Psychiatric diseases including anxiety and depression are among the highly prevailing disorders constituting a universal health concern. Anxiety is conventionally treated with benzodiazepines whereas tricyclic antidepressant, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, monoamine oxidase inhibitors are commonly used for the treatment of depression. Medicinal plants are now being more focused for the development of novel medications for CNS disorders due to the need of new different remedies having improved effectiveness and wide margin of safety. The present research work was aimed to examine the anxiolytic and antidepressant activity of aqueous methanolic extract (70%) of Terminalia bellirica leaves in healthy albino mice. Light and dark compartment test was used for evaluating anxiolytic effect. Forced swimming and tail suspension test served as behavioral assessment paradigm for antidepressant activity. Diazepam (1mg/kg i.p) and imipramine (10mg/kg p.o) served as positive controls respectively. Oral administration of Terminalia bellirica extract (50-100mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days significantly increased the duration of time spent in light compartment (61.94±6.24 and 104.5±5.88, respectively) as well as total number of entries (8.60±0.87 and 11.40±1.08, respectively) in light compartment in comparison to control group (23.23±7.17 and 2.60±0.68). Additionally, T.bellirica leaves in dose of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg after 10 days of administration significantly decreased the immobility duration (150.0±28.54 and 90.50± 15.07 respectively) in forced swimming and (118.4±24.82 and 37.28±8.42 respectively) in tail suspension tests as compared to control (228.14±9.33 and 265.5±31.14). The efficacy of extract (100mg/kg) was found comparable to diazepam and imipramine administered for 7 and 10 sequential days respectively. Hence, the data provided an affirmation of potential CNS activity of 70% methanolic extract of Terminalia bellirica and thus brace its utilization as a substituted medicinal source for conventional anxiolytic and antidepressant agents. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism of action of Terminalia bellirica is attributed to its phytochemical (flavonoids) constituents.