ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF MANILKARA ZAPOTA

Aim: The present investigation deals with the preliminary phytochemical screening, in vitro antioxidant, and in vivo antidepressant activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Manilkara zapota. Materials and Methods: In-vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using AS free radical scavenging parameters using Hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, phosphor molybdenum antioxidant assay and NO scavenging activity, and H₂O₂ scavenging assay. The forced swim test, tail suspension test and locomotor activity using a digital Photoactometer were used to investigate the extract’s antidepressant activity further. AA, fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) and imipramine (4 mg/kg, p.o) were used as reference drugs for comparison. Results and Discussions: The presence of these bioactive constituents is linked to the plant’s antioxidant and antidepressant activity. The IC₅₀ values of Hydrogen peroxide and Hydroxyl radical scavenging were found to be 24.5 and 81.28 ug/ml for extract and 7.94 and 40.7 ug/ml for AA. In our study, the extract showed a significant (P< 0.01) reduction in immobility in the tail suspension and forced swim models of depression, comparable to imipramine. Conclusion: psychostimulant effect comparable to standard fluoxetine in locomotor activity testing. The results showed that ethanolic leaf extract of M. zapota has comparable in-vitro antioxidant activity against phosphor molybdenum antioxidant assay, NO scavenging activity, H₂O₂ scavenging and hydroxyl radical scavenging to standard AA.