abrogates depression- and anxiety-like disorders in mice: possible involvement of monoaminergic pathways in its antidepressant activity.

Objectives: Ethno-botanical surveys uncovered the use of in the management of mental health abnormalities. Antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like activities of hydroethanol leaf extract of (HLDS) in mice and its possible mechanism of action were investigated in this study.

Methods: The hole-board test (HBT), open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze test (EPMT), and social interaction test (SIT) were used to investigate the anxiolytic-like activity while forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were employed for the antidepressant effect. Mice were pre-treated orally with purified water (10 mL/kg), bromazepam (1 mg/kg), fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) and (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg). One hour post-treatment, mice were subjected to the various tests.

Results: In HBT, increased the head dips and sectional crossings turnover. increased the number of square crossed and rearings/assisted rearings in OFT. increased the time spent in open arms of EPM. In SIT, increased the frequency/duration of interactions. In FST and TST, decreased the duration of immobility which were reversed by doxazosin (α adrenoceptor antagonist) and ondasentron (5-HT receptor antagonist).

Conclusions: HLDS has anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like activities through modulation of serotoninergic and adrenergic neurotransmissions.