Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Various preparations of Embelia ribes are used in Indian traditional medicine as brain tonic and for treating mental disorders. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the major known active principle of Embelia ribes for possible antidepressant activity. Fractionation of the methanlic extract of dried powdered fruits (?) using column chromatography over silica gel afforded embelin. Experimental depression was induced by subjecting mice to tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST) experimental models. Intraperitonial administration of embelin (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) 30 min prior to induction of experimental depression resulted in dose-dependent reduction of immobility under both test conditions. The effect of embelin at the dose of 5 mg/kg in both experimental models was comparable with the standard antidepressant drug, imipramine administered at the dose of 15 mg/kg. It is concluded that Embelia ribes and its major bioactive compound, embelin, have therapeutic potential for managing depression.
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1466498524