Phytochemical and Pharmacological Evaluation of Antidepressant Activity of Quercus infectoria Plant

Abstract

Depression is the second leading psychiatric disorder where 21 % of the world population suffers from this disease. The age range is markedly decreasing from 40–50 years age range to 25–35 years age range which observed worldwide. In last few decades, several drugs have been discovered to treat depression such as tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). But unfortunately, all of the drugs have serious side effects including insomnia, anxiety, weight gain etc. It is well known that nature is the best and safe source for all medicine. So it becomes worth to search for a new antidepressant drug from natural source with less side effects (It is assume that a drug from natural source could have less side effects) and complications. However, the neuropharmacological activity of Quercus infectoria plant is not investigated extensively which influenced us to design our study. The aim of study is to screen the effect of selected plant on these transmitters in stress induced depression in mice. This herb is well established for other activity but the effect of that herb on CNS transmitters is not known, so the study will identify the effect of plant leaves on these parameters due to a pharmacologically active flavonoid compound.The present study investigated the antidepressant-like effect of MEBM in different behavioral model of depression in mice.