Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND IN VIVO ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF CASCABELA THEVETIA

Adeeba Shaikh*, Balweer Singh Kirar, Pratyush Jain

RKDF College of Pharmacy, SRK University, Bhopal (M.P.)

ABSTRACT

Depression is a common mental condition that is characterised by low self-esteem, diminished energy, lack of interest or pleasure, guilt feelings, disturbed sleep, difficulty concentrating, and melancholy mood. Today, a wide range of synthetic drugs are used as the standard treatment for patients who are clinically depressed. However, these drugs have side effects that can interfere with therapeutic treatment. There is a need to find novel medications derived from medicinal plants. Thus, this study deals with phytochemical analysis and in vivo antidepressant activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Cascabela thevetia. The plant material was collected and subject to extraction followed by quantitative & in vivo study. Results showed that plant contain almost all phytochemicals except phenol & diterpene. Total flavonoid & alkaloid content was found to be 0.863 mg/100mg & 0.756 mg/100mg. In FST, extract of Cascabela thevetia leaf 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o. produced significant reduction (p<0.01) in the immobility period when compared with that of control group animals that received only the vehicle. In TST, Extract of Cascabela thevetia leaf 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o. produced significant reduction (p<0.01) in the immobility period when compared with that of control group animals that received only the vehicle. It is clear from the results that extract of Cascabela thevetia leaf at 200 mg/kg showed potent anti-depressant activity compared to that of standard drug.

Keywords: Cascabela thevetia, antidepressant, Medicinal plants, Phytochemicals.