EVALUATION OF THE AMELIORATIVE EFFECT OF ALPINIA OFFICINARUM METHANOL EXTRACT IN AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF DEPRESSION

The active ingredient flavonoids especially Flavones, e.g., Quercetin was identified from the methanol extract of Alpinia officinarum. This study evaluates the antidepressant activity of Alpinia officinarum (L.) wild Hance (Zingiberaceae) in Swiss Albino mice models. The antidepressant activity was evaluated by using different animal models viz. tail suspension test, despair swim test, potentiation of norepinephrine toxicity test, 5-hydroxytryptophan potentiation in Swiss Albino mice. The methanol extract of Alpinia officinarum significantly increases Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase level in the brain in the tail suspension test model. An antidepressant effect in the despair swim test was confirmed by the increase in monoamines (NE, DA, 5HT) and γ-aminobutyric acid levels in the brain. Alpinia officinarum methanol extract also contributes to the normal regulation of the HPA axis by significant (P<0.001) decreased in plasma corticosterone level. Alpinia officinarum (400 mg/kg) showed antidepressant potential by increasing the number of head twitches induced by 5 HTP. Antidepressant effect of an extract of Alpinia officinarum at a dose of 400 mg/kg could be via modulation of brain monoamines and normalizing hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis.