Assessment of Citrus maxima leaves extract for antidepressant activity on experimental animals

Abstract

Due to the prevalence of depression as a mental health problem, there is a need for innovative and effective treatment regimen. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ethanolic leaves extract of pomelo plant viz Citrus maxima, having antidepressant potential by employing behavioral tests on Wistar albino rats. The phytochemical investigation of ethanolic leaves extract of Citrus maxima show the presence of secondary metabolites such as flavonoid, tannin, saponin, amino acid, alkaloids, coumarins, protein and steroid respectively. The antidepressant potential of ethanolic leaves extract of Citrus maxima was investigated by employing behavioral parameters viz Force swim test (FST), Tail suspension test (TST), Locomotor activity (LA), and effect of depression was assessed by estimated serum corticosterone (CORT) level of respective animals group. Animals were divided into five major groups, Gp I treated as normal control rats and received carboxy methyl cellulose only (10ml/kg, p.o) daily for 14 days; Gp II (stress control) rats received carboxy methyl cellulose (10ml/kg, p.o) daily for 14 days and subjected to acute restraint on 13^th day respectively Gp III (standard drug treatment) rats received imipramine (15mg/kg, p.o) daily for 14 days and subjected to acute restraint on 13^th day respectively; similarly the rats of Gp IV and Gp V received 200 mg/kg, p.o and 400mg/kg, p.o of EECM daily for 14 days and subjected to restraint stress on 13^th day respectively. Results revealed that the administration with leaves extract from Citrus maxima lowered immobility time by a substantial amount, dose-dependently, in both the FST and TST. More research is required to determine the underlying mechanisms of action, as well as to assess the safety and efficacy of the extract in treating human depression