Behavioral evidence of antidepressant-like activity of <i>Raphanus sativus</i> L. Var. <i>caudatus</i> in mice

Abstract

Background: Currently-available antidepressant agents produce various adverse effects, and are expensive. At present, various plants are being evaluated for their possible role against numerous diseases, and no doubt, the role of traditional and complementary medicines in the development of effective therapy is incredible. The present study was designed to evaluate antidepressant-like activity of Raphanus sativus L. Var. caudatus at different doses in mice.

Materials and Methods: Antidepressant potential of ethanolic extract of Raphanus caudatus L. was evaluated at three different doses 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg by using forced swim test and tail suspension test on albino male mice. The results were compared with control and standard mice groups administered with normal saline and Fluoxetine respectively. In both parameters immobility period was recorded two times during 60 days dosing.

Results: The ethanol extract at all three tested doses (250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg /kg) and standard fluoxetine demonstrated notable antidepressant-like activity (p<0.05) in both FST and TST paradigms.

Conclusion: Our results clearly show that Raphanus caudatus ameliorate depression-like behavior in rodent model, and can be used to establish newer antidepressant approaches in future. However, mechanism-based studies are needed to establish the mechanistic action of Raphanus caudatus L.

Keywords: Raphanus caudatus, depression, FST, TST, immobility time, ethanol extract

List of Abbreviations: EERC Ethanol Extract of Raphanus caudatus: FST Forced swim test: TST Tail suspension test