title: Antidepressant activity of methanolic extract of amaranthus spinosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depressive disorder is a prevalent psychiatric disorder, which affects 21% of the world population. The presently using drugs can impose a variety of side-effects including cardiac toxicity, hypopiesia, sexual dysfunction, body weight gain, and sleep disorder. During the last decade, there is a growing interest in the therapeutic effects of natural products on mental disorders. Amaranthus spinosus was investigation for antidepressant activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antidepressant activity of methanolic extract of Amaranthus spinosus (MEAS) was investigated by using Forced swimming test (FST) and Tail suspension test (TST) models. Escitalopram and Imipramine were used as reference standards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It has been observed from our study that both the MEAS at higher concentration showed significant (p<0.01) reduction in immobility in tail suspension and forced swim model of depression comparable to Escitalopram and Imipramine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  However further study is needed to understand mechanism of action and to identify active component responsible for antidepressant like activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Sri K.V. College of Pharmacy, Chickballapur, Karnataka,India.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Ashok Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, PES College of Pharamcy, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lakshman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Sree Krishna Chaitanya College of Pharmacy, Madanapalle, Andhrapradesh, India.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Velmurugan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Sri K.V. College of Pharmacy, Chickballapur, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sridhar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Sri K.V. College of Pharmacy, Chickballapur, Karnataka,India.
authors.forename: Saran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gopisetty
keywords: Amaranthus Spinosus; Antidepressant Activity; Escitalopram; Imipramine