Evaluation of antidepressant activity of ethanol leaf extract of <i>Entada Africana</i> Guill. & Perr. (Fabaceae) in mice

Abstract

Depression remains the major cause of global disease burden and affects individuals in all communities around the world. More than 300 million individuals worldwide suffer from depression. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antidepressant activity of ethanol leaf extract of Entada africana (ELEEA) in mice. Preliminary phytochemical screening and acute toxicity studies of the extract were carried out using standard methods. Antidepressant activity screening of the extract was conducted using Tail Suspension Test (TST), Forced Swim Test (FST), and Open Field Test (OFT) in mice. Phytochemical screening shows the presence of terpenoids, steroids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, saponins, flavonoids and carbohydrates in the extract. The result of the acute toxicity studies revealed an LD₅₀ value of 28.3 mg/kg body weight in mice. ELEEA at all the tested doses significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the duration of immobility of mice in TST compared to the normal saline (control) group. In the FST, the extract at doses of 2, 4 and 8 mg/kg body weight exhibited significant (p < 0.01) reduction in the immobility time when compared to the control group. However, in the OFT, ELEEA at doses of 2, 4 and 8 mg/kg body weight and diazepam (0.5 mg/kg) had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on the number of lines crossed by the mice compared to the control group. The results of our study suggest that the ethanol leaf extract of Entada africana has potential for use as an antidepressant agent.