EVALUATION OF ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF CHENOPODIUM ALBUM EXTRACTS AND FRACTIONS IN MICE

Traditional systems of medicine emphasize the importance of life-style, including dietary habits, for maintaining holistic health. Ayurveda recommends the use of fruits and vegetables in our diet for maintaining mental health. Chenopodium album is one such popular green vegetable. This plant is rich in phenolic compounds – compounds that are valued for their antioxidant activity and potential for management of CNS disorders. In this study, n-hexane, chloroform, methanol, and aqueous extracts of C. album leaves were prepared and standardized on the basis of total phenol content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant potential (DPPH assay). In-vivo antidepressant activity of chloroform and methanol extracts was evaluated using Forced Swim Test (FST) and Open Field Test (OFT) models in mice. The bioactive methanol extract was fractionated into n-hexane, ethylacetate, and remaining aqueous fractions, followed by standardization and in-vivo evaluation of fractions. EAF had highest TPC (121.16 ± 9.31 mg GAE/g), TFC (55.42 ± 8.12 mg QE/g) and antioxidant potential (42.67 ± 2.25 µg/mL). EAF (40 mg/kg) showed significant antidepressant action without impairing the motor activity of animals. Comparative TLC fingerprint profiles confirmed the presence of ferulic acid in ME and EAF. The content of ferulic acid in C. album leaves, using an HPTLC method, was found to be 0.0030 ± 0.0002% w/w with respect to air-dried plant material. The antidepressant potential of C. album might be attributed to ferulic acid acting alone or in combination with other constituents present in C. album EAF.