Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Antidepressant and Antioxidant Activities of a Renowned Polyherbal Formulation

Abstract

Background: India is an opulent provenance of medicinal plants used therapeutically to treat various disorders including depression. The present study was designed to scrutinize the antidepressant activity of Sharbat Ahmad Shahi (SAS) in swiss albino mice. Methods: The antidepressant activity was studied in swiss albino mice using two behavioural paradigms i.e forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Sharbat ahmad shahi (6ml/kg), hydroalcoholic and aqueous extract of the ingredients of SAS (0.34mg/kg and 0.64mg/kg) respectively, was used as test drugs, Flauxatine (20mg/kg) was used as a standard drug and vehicle was distilled water (10ml/kg), orally for 14 days. Results: SAS, hydroalcoholic and aqueous extract of the ingredients of SAS produced a significant antidepressant effect in both FST and TST as they reduced the immobility time. A significant reduction in TBARS and an increased in GSH levels were observed in brains of mice exposed to FST and TST. Conclusion: The present study propound that SAS, hydroalcoholic and aqueous extract of the ingredients of SAS possess an antidepressant like effect.