EVALUATION OF ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS ROOT EXTRACT OF ARNEBIA BENTHAMII IN RATS

Objective: Depression is an etiologically heterogeneous group of brain disorders characterized by a wide range of symptoms that reflect alterations in psychomotor cognitive and emotional processes. Arnebia benthamii is a high value medicinal plant rank second in the list of medicinal plant prioritized for Western Himalaya. The roots have antihelmenthic, antipyretic, antiseptic, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The present study was designed to evaluate the antidepressant activity of aqueous root extract of Arnebia benthamii in rats through behavioral assessment such as Force swim test and Tail suspension test and biochemical assessment such as superoxide dismutase, nitrite level, brain gluthathione and lipid peroxidation in the rat brain. Method: The test drug was administered orally in three doses (75, 150 & 300 mg/kg p.o) for a period of 14 days. Imipramine (standard), 10 mg/kg p.o, was used as a standard treatment. Forced swim test and tail suspension test were used to assess antidepressant activity. On the 14th day, through behavioral testing, effect of the drug was assessed on reduced gluthathione, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase and nitrite in the rat brain tissue. Results: The aqueous root extract of Arnebia benthamii (75, 150 & 300 mg/kg) showed significant reduction in immobility time in forced swim test and tail suspension test. Aqueous root extract of Arnebia benthamii significantly increased brain gluthathione level, SOD level as compared to the control group and decreased the lipid peroxidation and nitrite as compared to the control group. Conclusion: In the present study the aqueous root extract of Arnebia benthamii shows promising effect of antidepressant activity in rats. Arnebia benthamii which possess antioxidant property have shown high therapeutic value in managing various disorders such as depression induced by force swim test and tail suspension test. Key words: Arnebia benthamii, force swim test, tail suspension test, Imipramine and antioxidant.