Dual Protective Effect of Cynodon dactylon in Epilepsy as Well as Depression

Background and Objective: Depression and epilepsy are considered as the strongest predictor of poor quality of life. A complex relation has been established between the two conditions which suggest that the high co morbidity of depression and epilepsy is related to the existence of common neurobiologic and pathogenic mechanisms involved in them. Plants and their extracts are better choice to treat such type of diseases (in which treatment of one worsens the other), because of presence of antagonistic substances in them, due to which they show lesser or no side effects. Hence, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of Cynodon dactylon on epilepsy and depression in mice. Methodology: Antidepressant activity was investigated using forced swim test and reserpine induced hypothermia model and antiepileptic activity was explored using MES test and PTZ induced seizure test. Results: The results of the present study showed that ethanolic extract of C. dactylon possess promising antidepressant as well as antiepileptic activity. From the mechanistic study performed using baclofen induced catatonia and lithium induced head twitch model, it was demonstrated that the antiepileptic effect of C. dactylon may be mediated through its GABA-mimetic action and antidepressant activity may be mediated through 5 HT2 antagonistic action (like atypical antidepressants). Conclusion: Thus, it may be concluded that dual protective effect of C. dactylon in epilepsy and depression is associated with diverse mechanism, namely GABA-mimetic and 5-HT2 antagonistic action.