COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF VARIOUS EXTRACTS OF NYCTANTHES ARBOR-TRISTIS

The present study evaluates the antidepressant activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (NT). In the present study antidepressant effects of hydroalcoholic leaf extract (250 & 500 mg/kg) (NTL), flower extract (250 & 500 mg/kg) (NTF) and combination extract (leaf+flower extract in equal ratio) (250 & 500 mg/kg) (NTC) of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis were evaluated by the use of forced swim test. The animals were divided into different groups and were given daily dosing for seven successive days. On the seventh day, the immobility time and locomotor activity were noted down. The locomotor activity was taken before and after dosing. Initial phytochemical investigations showed the presence of some active constituents which were important for the antidepressant activity. All extracts of NT & imipramine treated groups demonstrated a significant reduction of immobility time. There were also statistically remarkable differences in immobility time in groups treated with combination extract compared to groups treated with leaf and flower extract alone. All extracts of NT also showed slight increment in the locomotor activity but were not statistically significant. Therefore, it was concluded that the hydroalcoholic extracts of NT show remarkable antidepressant effect.