Antidepressant and anxiolytic activity of Lavandula officinalis aerial parts hydroalcoholic extract in scopolamine-treated rats.
BACKGROUND
Anxiety and depression are common in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite some evidence, it is difficult to confirm Lavandula officinalis Chaix ex Vill (Lamiaceae) as an anxiolytic and antidepressant drug.


OBJECTIVE
The effects of L. officinalis extract were studied in scopolamine-induced memory impairment, anxiety and depression-like behaviour.


METHODS
Male NMRI rats were divided into control, scopolamine alone-treated group received scopolamine (0.1 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.), daily and 30 min prior to performing behavioural testing on test day, for 12 continuous days and extract pretreated groups received aerial parts hydro alcoholic extract (i.p.) (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), 30 min before each scopolamine injection. Memory impairment was assessed by Y-maze task, while, elevated plus maze and forced swimming test were used to measure anxiolytic and antidepressive-like activity.


RESULTS
Spontaneous alternation percentage in Y maze is reduced by scopolamine (36.42 ± 2.60) (p ≤ 0.001), whereas lavender (200 and 400 mg/kg) enhanced it (83.12 ± 5.20 and 95 ± 11.08, respectively) (p ≤ 0.05). Also, lavender pretreatment in 200 and 400 mg/kg enhanced time spent on the open arms (15.4 ± 3.37 and 32.1 ± 3.46, respectively) (p ≤ 0.001). On the contrary, while immobility time was enhanced by scopolamine (296 ± 4.70), 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg lavender reduced it (193.88 ± 22.42, 73.3 ± 8.25 and 35.2 ± 4.22, respectively) in a dose-dependent manner (p ≤ 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Lavender extracts improved scopolamine-induced memory impairment and also reduced anxiety and depression-like behaviour in a dose-dependent manner.
a Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahed University , Tehran , Iran.|b Department of Physiology , School of Medicine, Shahed University , Tehran , Iran.
Batool
B
Rahmati
a Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahed University , Tehran , Iran.|b Department of Physiology , School of Medicine, Shahed University , Tehran , Iran.
Zahra
Z
Kiasalari
a Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahed University , Tehran , Iran.|b Department of Physiology , School of Medicine, Shahed University , Tehran , Iran.
Mehrdad
M
Roghani
a Neurophysiology Research Center, Shahed University , Tehran , Iran.|b Department of Physiology , School of Medicine, Shahed University , Tehran , Iran.
Mohsen
M
Khalili
b Department of Physiology , School of Medicine, Shahed University , Tehran , Iran.
Fariba
F
Ansari
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D027523:Lavandula / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D012601:Scopolamine; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013550:Swimming; D013997:Time Factors
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol; D012601:Scopolamine
Memory impairment; Y maze; anxiety; depression; elevated plus maze; forced swimming