“EVALUATION OF ANTI-DEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF AVERRHOA BILIMBI USING VARIOUS ANIMAL MODELS”

Aim of the study: Averrhoa bilimbi is used to treat a variety of illnesses, including those that affect the central nervous system. In this study, albino rats were given methanolic extract of Averrhoa bilimbi leaves (MEAB) to investigate its effects using behavioral assays that are sensitive to antidepressants with clinical efficacy. Methodology: When mice were subjected to the Tail suspension test (TST) and Forced swim test (FST), the extract (125,250, and 500mg/kg) was able to reduce the immobility duration of the mice dose-dependently; the effects are comparable to those of standard medicines, i.e., imipramine (10mg/kg). Results: Our research revealed that MEAB, when administered at greater concentrations, significantly (p<0.0001) reduced immobility in tail suspension and forced swim model of depression comparable to Imipramine. These findings showed that AB exhibited in vivo effects that were selectively antidepressant. Conclusion: The results of this study, in summary, revealed that AB extracts may have antidepressant properties that make them potentially useful for treating patients with depressive disorders. However, more research is required to comprehend the mechanism of action and to pinpoint the key ingredient that produces antidepressant-like activity.