EVALUATION OF ANTI-DEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF ROFLUMILAST IN ALBINO MICE

Depression is a collective term used for the mental condition characterized by loss of interest, inability to concentrate, eat or sleep, reduced energy levels, together with reduced self-esteem. To date, the medicines available are often associated with several adverse conditions and fail to treat comorbidities it entails. Phosphodiesterase (especially its inhibitors) are recently gaining attention owing to their benefits on the central nervous system. With this background, the present study aimed to evaluate the anti-depressant activity of Roflumilast using albino mice. 8 groups of 6 albino mice of either sex were randomly selected, 4 groups were allocated for forced swim test (FST) and 4 for tail suspension test (TST). Group 1 – Normal saline (10ml/kg), Group 2 -Imipramine (20mg/kg), Group 3 T1 – Roflumilast (0.06mg/kg), Group 4 T2 – Roflumilast (0.06mg/kg) and Imipramine (10 mg/kg). Drugs were administered orally for 14 days. The acute study was done on day 1 and the chronic study on day 14. Percentage reduction of immobility period during FST by Imipramine, T1 and T2 are 51.9%, 37.5%, and 44% respectively for acute study and 79.8%, 57%, 66.4% for chronic study. The percent reduction of immobility period during TST by Imipramine, T1 & amp; T2 is 36.9%, 26.9%, 33%, respectively for acute study and 57.6%, 47.1%, 49.6%, respectively for chronic study. Roflumilast showed a considerable anti-depressant effect. It potentiates the effect of Imipramine, indicating better efficacy as an adjuvant with standard anti-depressant agents. The effect is more pronounced in the chronic study.