Mood Elevating Activity of Plant Chrozophora plicata (Euphorbiaceae)

The study was designed to investigate the antidepressant effect 70% petroleum ether extract of Chrozophora plicata leaves (600mg/kg) against experimentally induced depression models such as Tail suspension test and Forced swimming test in albino mice. In the tail suspension test, three groups of albino mice, each group containing three animals are used. The control group, test group (Pet. ether extract of Chrozophora plicata 600mg/kg, p.o) and standard (amitriptyline 20mg/kg, p.o) treated animals were suspended by their tail using 75cm long thread for a period of 6 minutes and the total duration of immobility was recorded. In forced swimming test, mice of each group are placed in a beaker (25cm height and 10 cm diameter) filled with water to a depth of 6cms. The duration of immobility was recorded for a period of 10 minutes. It was observed that duration of immobility with test extract treated mice was found to be less (80.6 ± 1.51seconds and 245.6 ± 0.05 seconds) in comparison with the duration of immobility of control treated mice (131.3 ± 0.62seconds and 295 ± 1.47 seconds) in both tail suspension and forced swimming depression models. However the duration of immobilities of test treated mice are not less than the standard amitriptyline (20mg/kg) treated mice. Hence by the decrease in duration of immobility in mice when subjected to depression clearly indicates the presence of antidepressive components in Chrozophora plicata leaf extract. Preliminary phytochemical screening of Chrozophora plicata leaf petroleum ether extract indicates the presence of less polar flavonoids such as flavonones, isoflavones, flavonols and triterpenoids. Therefore the mood elevation activity of crude 70% petroleum ether extract of Chrozophora plicata may be due to less polar flavonoids and triterpenoids.