ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF EMBELIN ISOLATED FROM THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF FRUITS OF EMBELIA RIBES BURM.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the major known active principleembelin of Embeliaribes for possible antidepressant activity..EmbeliaribesBurm (Family: Myrsinaceae) is extensively used in Indian traditional medicine for treating various disease conditions including chronic inflammatory disorders, heart and urinary conditions, snake and insect bites and tumour. Methodology: Fractionation of the methanlic extract of dried powdered fruits using column chromatography over silica gel afforded embelin. Experimental depression was induced by subjecting mice to tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST) experimental models. Intraperitonial administration of embelin (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) 30 min prior to induction of experimental depression resulted in dose-dependent reduction of immobility under both test conditions. Results: The effects of embelin on immobility time of mice in the TST at the doses of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg, embelin induced antidepressant-like effect with significance level of p < 0.05; p < 0.001 respectively when compared with the control group. The positive control, imipramine, administered at the dose of 15 mg/kg did also show antidepressant-like effect comparable with that of 5 mg/kg embelin (p > 0.001).As with the FST, treatment of mice with 2.5 and 5 mg/kg of embelin given by intra peritoneal route significantly decreased immobility in the FST. The data obtained at these two doses were significantly different from the control group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively). The positive control, imipramine, did also shorten immobility time in the FST (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The result concludes that,the major bioactive constituent of Embeliaribes, embelin, exhibited significant activity in mice TST and FST experimental models. The observed potent activity at doses lower than the standard antidepressant drug, imipramine, suggests the potential of embelin and Embeliaribes for treating mental depression.