To evaluate and compare antidepressant activity of Centella asiatica in mice by using forced swimming test

Abstract

Background: Centella asiatica is a great multipurpose miracle herb used in Oriental medicine that has several therapeutic (such as sedative and hypnotic) effects.it also heals depression, grief, nervous stress and tension. In the present study we evaluated antidepressant-like effect of Centella asiatica using forced swimming test (FST).The forced swim test is a commonly used stressor test, where mice are forced to swim in specially constructed tanks for a particular period where there is behavioural activation characterized by vigorous swimming and diving to search for alternate routes to escape. Animal health including human has been shown to affected by the stressful events of the life inducing situation which alters cognition, learning memory and emotional responses, causing mental disorders like depression and anxiety and stress in mice.Methods: The experiment was carried out with 24 healthy albino mice of either sex weighing about 25-30 gm. These were acclimatized to their environment for one week prior to experientation. Two doses of aqueous extract (10 and 20 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally. After 30 min of injection, immobility and swimming times were measured and compared with control (negative control) and imipramine (positive control).Results: In the present study Centella asiatica in the doses of 10 mg and 20 mg/kg significantly decreased the immobility time compared to the control than standard, thereby proving that it has anti-depresssant activity. The dose of 20 mg/kg body wt. showed anti-depressant activity almost similar to the standard drug imipramine (10 mg/kg).Conclusions: Due to lack of certain records, it is envisaged that the change of medicine both discontinuation as well as addition was done because of blood glucose control, cost factor (in case of pioglitazone) as well as patient’s compliance.