PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILING AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF A HERBAL EXTRACT WITH ANTIDEPRESSANT POTENTIAL

Abstract

Depression is a prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder that significantly impacts quality of life and is often associated with high morbidity. Current antidepressant therapies are limited by delayed onset of action, side effects, and incomplete remission, highlighting the need for alternative therapeutic approaches. Herbal medicines, owing to their phytochemical diversity and multi-target actions, are being increasingly investigated for their neuroprotective and antidepressant potential. The present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition, cytotoxicity, and antidepressant activity of a selected herbal extract. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and phenolic compounds, which are known to possess neuroactive and antioxidant properties. Cytotoxicity studies (MTT assay) revealed the extract to be safe at therapeutic concentrations. Pharmacological assessment was conducted using validated animal models of depression, including the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). The extract demonstrated significant antidepressant-like activity, reflected by reduced immobility time compared to control, and its efficacy was comparable to standard antidepressant drugs. The findings suggest that the antidepressant effect may be attributed to the synergistic action of bioactive phytoconstituents, possibly mediated through modulation of monoaminergic pathways and antioxidant defense mechanisms