Eat Tomato a Day to Keep Depression at Day

Lycopersicon esculentum Mill (Solanaceae) popularly known as tomato, is a native of the western side of South America. Today, the United States of America, Russia, Italy, Spain, China, Egypt, Turkey and India are among the top selling commercial producers of tomatoes. Tomato leaves are used traditionally as antimicrobial agents. There are no reports in literature pertaining to CNS actions of Lycopersicon esculentum fruit. In the light of above, the present study was undertaken to test the antidepressant potential of Lycopersicon esculentum fruit juice. Lycopersicon esculentum juice (LEJ) was administered at various concentrations ranging from 5% to 20% v/v to Swiss mice, once daily for 15 successive days. The antidepressant activity was measured using forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). The results showed that the LEJ significantly reduced the immobility time of mice in both FST and TST. Prazosin (62.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and p-CPA (100 mg/kg, i.p) significantly antagonized this reduction in immobility time. Furthermore, Lycopersicon esculentum juice inhibited the monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzyme and reduced significantly malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. These findings reveal the anti-depressant potential of tomato.