title: Evaluation of antidepressant-like effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Pimpinella anisum fruit in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pimpinella anisum (P. anisum ) has different pharmacological properties such as anticonvulsant, analgesic, tranquilizer, antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects. In this study the antidepressant-like effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of P. anisum fruit in mice was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were used to determine the antidepressant effects of P. anisum (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) fruit extracts. Fluoxetine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) and imipramine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) were used as standard drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the three doses of aqueous and ethanolic extracts (except 50 mg/kg of aqueous extract in FST) significantly and dose-dependently reduced the immobility times in both FST and TST. All doses of extracts increased the swimming time dose-dependently, without any significant change in climbing time. In addition, all doses of ethanolic extract reduced immobility times and increased swimming time insignificantly higher than aqueous extract. But, the two extracts decreased the duration of climbing time similarly. Fluoxetine and imipramine decreased immobility time in both tests. Fluoxetine increased the swimming time without modifying climbing time. In contrast, imipramine increased climbing time without any significant change in swimming time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that P. anisum possesses an antidepressant-like activity similar to that of fluoxetine, which has a potential clinical value for application in the management of depression.
authors.affiliation: Depatment of Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shahamat
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abbasi-Maleki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Science Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohammadi Motamed
keywords: Antidepressant activity; Forced swimming test; Mice; Pimpinella anisum; Tail suspension test