Acute antidepressant activity of aqueous extract of Terminalia belerica fruit in mice in experimental paradigms

Abstract

Depression is a common symptom in today's scenario, which is a widespread psychiatric disorder. The aqueous extract of Terminalia belerica fruit (AETB) contains phenol and tannin compounds which have shown promising therapeutic potential in neurological diseases. The study was undertaken to evaluate the antidepressant activity of AETB using Forced Swim Test (FST) and Tail Suspension Test (TST). Adult male Swiss Albino mice weighing about 25-30 g were used. The animals were divided into five groups, each group containing six animals (n = 6). Group I was control that received gum acacia (10 ml/kg, per oral), group II standard imipramine (10 mg/kg, per oral) and group III, IV and V were test groups that received AETB (9 mg/kg, 18 mg/kg and 36 mg/kg, per oral respectively). All the drugs were administered one hour prior to the study. The results were analyzed using one way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's t-test, p < 0.05 was considered significant. The effect of AETB on immobility periods of mice were assessed in Forced Swim Test (FST) and Tail Suspension Test (TST). The effects of AETB were compared with that of control. The AETB showed significant reduction in immobility time of mice in both FST and TST at the doses of 9 mg/kg, and 36 mg/kg and 9 mg/kg, 18 mg/kg respectively on acute administration. The present study suggests the possible antidepressant like activity of AETB in mice on acute administration.