Evaluation of antidepressant activity of Ficus carica leaves extract in experimental animals

People in modern society suffer from different psychiatric disorders, particularly the depression. The exact cause of depression is unknown, but researchers suggest that depression is due to imbalancing of neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain. Factors that may contribute to depression include heredity, stress, chronic illnesses, certain personality traits and hormonal changes. However, several syntetic drugs are available in market, but all are associated with some limitations and there is an urgent need for alternative medications for these disorders. To date the search for novel pharmacotherapy from medicinal plants for psychiatric illness was significantly progressed. Therefore in the present study we evaluates the antidepressant activity of ethanolic extract of Ficus carica leaves by using Forced swimming test (FST) and Tail suspension test (TST) models. The results showed that the extract shows decrease in immobility time and significantly increase inthe level of biogenic amine along with reduction in monoamino oxidase enzyme that metabolizes biogenic amines in both experimental models as compared to the animals in the control group and Imipramine treated standard group. Therefore, based on present findings the Ficus carica can be used as potential resource for natural psychotherapeutic agent against depression. However, further investigations are required to determine the molecular level of target mechanism of the extract for further use in humans.