Publication:

The Antidepressant like action of ethanolic extract of areca catechu on behavioral models of depression in rats

Background The objective was to investigate the anti-depressant like activity of areca catechu nut ethanolic extract (ACEE) using behavioural tests in rats.

Methods Forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were used to assess the anti-depressant like effect of ACEE rats. Motor coordination was also assessing using rota-rod test in rats to see generalised CNS depression. Fluoxetine was the reference standard drug. Rats were divided into four groups with six rats in each group namely control group, fluoxetine 10 mg/kg group, ACEE 50 mg/kg group and fluoxetine 5 mg/kg plus ACEE 25 mg/kg. All treatments were administered orally.

Results The areca nut ethanolic extract (ACEE) (50mg/kg oral) exhibited anti-depressant like activity i.e. decrease the duration of immobility time (sec) in acute forced swim test (FST) and in acute tail suspension test (TST) in rats (104±1.7, 95%CI 99.65 to 108.4, p <0.01) Vs control and (136.3±1.94, 95%CI 131.3 to 141.3, p<0.01) Vs control respectively. ACEE in low dose of 25 mg potentiated the anti-depressant activity of low dose fluoxetine 5 mg/kg in both the test 102.3±2.60, CI 95.64 to 109.0 p<0.01) Vs control. The ACEE did not produce motor incoordination in rats.

Conclusions The results of present study suggest that the areca catechu nut ethanolic extract 50mg/kg possess potential anti-depression like effect without generalized CNS depression. Further studies are needed to confirm this.