Abstract

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders reported in all the parts of Globe. The existing pharmacological therapy with N-methyl D-aspartate antagonists and tricyclic antidepressants has shown good efficacy in increasing neurotransmission in the brain but they are also associated with various unwanted effects. Hence, alternative therapeutics such as nutraceuticals with low side effect profile were investigated as new safe antidepressant agents. In the present study nutraceutical products Rutin and Berberine were screened for in vitro antioxidant activity by DPPH free radical scavenging assay and NBT superoxide scavenging assay. These compounds have shown good inhibitory activity in all in vitro assays, based on these results in vivo studies were conducted. Antidepressant activity of Rutin and Berberine was evaluated by using forced swim test in mice, tail suspension test in rats. These compounds (250, 500 mg/kg bd. wt.) decreased the immobility periods in dose dependent manner in both tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST). The expected mechanism of action the activity probably through increased monoamine transmission in the brain. From the results it was found that Rutin and Berberine have significant antidepressant activity.