Background

Anthocephalus cadamba owe their family name to ‘runiaceae’. The plant’s primary constituents include triterpenes, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids and indole alkaloids, including isocadambine, cadambine and isodihydrocadambine, cadamine. Literature survey reveals reports on pharmacological effects of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cytotoxic, antigenotoxic, sedative and antiepileptic, anticonvulsant activity, anti-cancer, Anti-helminthic activity and antimicrobial, Antifungal activity and antipyretic. Anthocephalus cadamba has been reported to possess antiepileptic property and have a neuroprotective effect. So that the present work is designed for anti-depressant activity in experimental animals. The effects of an ethanol leaf extract from Anthocephalus cadamba (AC) leaves on depression in Swiss albino mice CUMS models.

Materials and Methods

Mice were stressed by repeatedly subjecting them to moderate stress for 21 days in succession. Imipramine (15 mg/kg) and EEAC (200 and 400 mg/kg) were administered orally to different groups of stressed and unstressed mice for a period of 21 days. In order to evaluate the mice’s propensity towards depressive-like behaviour, they conducted the Forced Swim Test (FST) and the Tail Suspension Test (TST) one hour after receiving an oral administration of EEAC at doses of either 200 or 400 mg/kg

Results

The immobility length of both stressed and unstressed mice was dramatically shortened after 21 days of treatment with EEAC (200 and 400 mg/kg) and imipramine (15 mg/kg). The aforementioned impact was observed in both TST and FST. Ethanol leaf Extract of Anthocephalus cadamba (EEAC) significantly decreased MDA level and increased catalase level. Both relaxed and anxious mice showed a considerable rise in their serotonin levels after receiving EEAC (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) treatment in contrast to their respective vehicle-treated counterparts.

Conclusion

In mice that were both relaxed and stressed, the EEAC showed strong antidepressant-like action, perhaps reducing oxidative stress.