Anti-Depressant Activity of Zizyphus xylopyrus

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract (ext.), ethyl acetate (EA) fractions and precipitate fraction (ppt.) of total ethanolic extract of Zizyphus xylopyrus on depression in rats. In the present study, the antidepressant effect of Zizyphus xylopyrus was examined using two behavioral models, the forced swimming test (FST) in rats and tail suspension test (TST) in rats.Ethanolic extract when administered at an acute dose of 50 mg/kg of body weight (P<0.01) reduced the immobility time by 10 and 15 seconds as compared to the immobility time of control in both the screening models. Similarly EA reduced latter by 30 and 35 secs. The ppt. fraction showed the best activity, reducing the immobility time by 50 and 60 secs. in both the tests. These results showed that after standard i.e. Imipramine HCl (30 mg/kg), the ppt. fraction is potent amongst all the studied drugsThe present study clearly demonstrated that Zizyphus xylopyrus exerts an antidepressant effect in these two behavioral models. It may be due to present of flavonoids. Keywords: Zizyphus xylopyrus, Flavanoides, forced swimming test, tail suspension test.