Publication:

Screening of a novel furan compound for its antidepressant activity in albino mice

Background Depression is a common chronic recurrent syndrome, characterized by apathy, loss of energy, retardation of thinking and activity, as well as profound feelings of gloominess, despair and suicidal ideation. The present study aimed to evaluate the antidepressant activity of synthesized novel furan compound by using forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST).

Methods The antidepressant activity was studied in albino mice using FST and TST. Fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) were used as standard drugs and test drug novel furan compound (5, 10, 20 mg/kg) was used as test drug. A total of 60 mice were selected for the study and utilized 30 mice in each model. Animals were divided into five groups consisting of 6 animals in each. Control group received 10% tween 80 orally; standard group received fluoxetine 20 mg/kg orally; test group 1 received 5 mg/kg substituted furan compound orally; test group 2 received 10 mg/kg substituted furan compound orally; test group 3 received 20 mg/kg substituted furan compound orally.

Results In FST the low dose test compound had shown the percentage inhibition of 75.5% which was comparable to percentage inhibition of standard drug fluoxetine -82%. In TST the test group-1 had produced 66.6%, test group-2 83.3% and test group-3 produced 100% protection against passive behavior (immobility). The percentage of protection produced by highest dose was equal to standard drug fluoxetine against passive behavior.

Conclusions It can be concluded that the test drug has produced significant inhibition in duration of immobility by FST and also had significant protection against passive behavior. Hence substituted furan had potential antidepressant activity.