In Vivo Evaluation of the Antidepressant Activity of a Novel Polyherbal Formulation

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-depressive activity of a polyherbal formulation (PF) after 28 days administration by using a rat forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Animals were divided into six groups (n=6/group): group-1: The control rats received injections of 0.5% CMC solution only; group 2: FST+vehicle, groups 3: FST+SER (10 mg/kg, i.p.); group 4: FST+200 mg/kg; group 5: FST+400 mg/kg group 6; FST+800 mg/kg and drugs were administrated once daily for 28 days treatment. To assess the effect of PF on immobility activity through FST and TST were used to take as a measure of antidepressant activity. The probable mechanism of action of the anti-depressive effect of PF was also investigated by measuring the level of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, MAO, GABA, homocysteine, IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels in the blood of the stress rats.PF significantly reduced the immobility time of rat in both the FST and TST. However, might explain the results. In addition, PF decreased the MAO, homocysteine, IL-2 and IFN-gamma level while it increased the levels of serotonin, dopamine, nor epinephrine and GABA in the blood. PF with 200 mg/kg treatment have shown the more significant improvement in stress rats. After 28 days administration, PF produced antidepressant-like effects. The mechanisms of action of anti-depressive effect of PF seemed to involve an increase of the monoamines level (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, MAO, GABA) while decreasing the MAO, inflammatory marker and homocysteine in the stress of rats.