title: Antidepressant-like effects of methanolic extract of Bacopa monniera in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacopa monniera has been used as a cure for various ailments that include anxiety, epileptic disorders, dementia, blood purifier, cough and rheumatism, and some important local uses of the plant are in dermatitis, anemia, diabetes, promote fertility and prevent miscarriage for many years in Bangladesh. According to this background, the aim of the study was to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of the methanolic extract of B. monniera (MEBM) in different behavioral models such as forced swimming test (FST), measurement of locomotor activity test (MLAT) and tail suspension test (TST) on mice after two weeks treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were divided into five groups (n = 5/group): control group (deionized water), standard group where Imipramine hydrochloride (30 mg/kg) was used as standard drug and three test groups where three doses of the methanolic extract of B. monniera (MEBM) (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) was used for two weeks treatment. All the drug and test samples were administered via gavage through oral route. To assess the antidepressant-like effect of MEBM forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) and measurement of locomotor activity test (MLAT) have been done in mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that a strong and dose-dependent antidepressant effects in different mice models. The main findings of the MEBM significantly reduced the duration of immobility times in the forced swimming test (p < 0.001). Likewise, the extract significantly decreased the immobility time in the tail suspension test (p < 0.001). Moreover, we employed an additional measurement of locomotor activity test to check the motor stimulating activity of the MEBM. The extract also significantly increased the locomotion, rearing and defecation effects in comparison to the control group (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results clearly demonstrate that the methanolic extract of B. monniera possesses antidepressant-like activity in the animal behavioral models. The current study warrants further investigation into identification of the active compounds in herbal medicines, in particular extract of B. monniera with antidepressant-like effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Stamford University Bangladesh, 51, Siddeswari Road, Dhaka, 1217, Bangladesh. manna.034@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mannan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Stamford University Bangladesh, 51, Siddeswari Road, Dhaka, 1217, Bangladesh. ababir.pharma@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ariful Basher
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Abir
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Jessore University of Science and Technology, Jessore, 7408, Bangladesh. sumon_pharmacy@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Rashidur
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rahman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D034681:Bacopa; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007099:Imipramine