EVALUATION OF ANTI-DEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF EMBLICA OFFICINALIS IN RATS USING ETHANOLIC EXTRACTION METHOD

The present study was carried out to investigate the phytochemical constituents & anti-depressant activity of Emblica officinalis fruit in forced swim test(FST). Emblica officinalis (EO) contains tannic acid, flavonoid & vitamin-C (Ascorbic acid) as its main ingredient and its compounds has been shown to have non-selective mono-amine oxidase activity. Adult rats weighing 250gms were used in the study. Standard drug amitriptyline (10mg/kg) and test drug (EO) were suspended in 1% gum acacia. The amitriptyline (10mg/kg) and EO (20mg/kg, 40mg/kg) were administered 60 min prior to study. In our study both amitriptyline and EO significantly reduced the time period of immobility in both experimental models as compared to animals in control group. The anti-depressant activity of EO comparable to that of standard drug amitriptyline. The results of the present study indicate the potential for use of EO as an adjuvant in the treatment of depression.

Keywords: Forced swim test, Emblica officinalis, Depression, amitriptyline, immobility.