Evaluation of Antidepressant Activity of Ailanthus excelsa roxb. Using Mice as Experimental Animal
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Introduction: Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. is a tree belonging to family Simaroubaceae, commonly known as a plant of Heaven. The bark of the plant is reported for various pharmacological activities including ear ache, aantimicrobial, anti-viral, antitumor, cytotoxic, hypotensive, abortifacient, diabetes mellitus, obesity and various uterine disorders in Ayurveda. Methanolic extract of Ailanthus excelsa (MeAe) in 150 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg doses are used for evaluation of antidepressant activity.
Objective: To evaluate antidepressant activity of Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. using mice as experimental animal by actophotometer and forced swim induced despair behaviour methods.
Methods: Swiss albino mice were randomly allocated to 4 groups (n=6); Group I (Normal Control), Group II (Standard group), group III and Group IV (Test Groups). Group I received distilled water while Group II, III and Group IV received Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p), MeAe 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg per oral respectively. Stem bark was extracted by cold maceration process. Antidepressant activity was estimated by actophotometer and forced swim induced despair behaviour methods.
Results: MeAe at dose of 150 mg/kg showed highly significant (p<0.01) increase in locomotion and decrease in immobility period while MeAe 100 mg/kg showed significant results in both methods.
Conclusion: MeAe (150 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) has antidepressant activity in mice.
Keywords
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