Anti-Depressant-Like Activity of Mucuna Pruriens; A Traditional Indian Herb in Rodent Models of Depression

Abstract

The anti-depressant-like effects of Mucuna pruriens (MP) were studied in validated models of depression. Psycho-pharmacological investigations involved acute and chronic treatment (14 days) of mucuna in forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) in mice and olfactory bulbectomy in rats, respectively. Dose response study in mice FST and TST revealed the initial anti-depressant-like effect of Mucuna (10-20 mg/kg i.p.). Interaction studies revealed that, mucuna (10 mg/kg) significantly enhanced the anti-depressant action of fluoxetine and bupropion in FST and TST respectively. Potentiation of 5-Hydroxytryptophan induced head twitches response (in mice) and reversal of reserpine induced hypothermia (rats) were observed at same dose level. Further, the behaviour anomalies exhibited by olfactory bulbectomised rats (OBX) were attenuated by chronic mucuna treatment as observed in open field. In conclusion, this behavioural study depicts the anti-depressant-like effect of mucuna in acute and chronic model of depression.