Enhanced antidepressant-like activity of Diosgenin and Silymarin in combination on phenobarbitone-induced sleeping time in rats

The current study was aimed to investigate the antidepressant-like activity of Diosgenin and Silymarin in combination against depression using phenobarbitone-induced sleeping time in rats. The study was carried out in four groups of wistar rats (150-200gm) of either sex containing six animals each. Group I was served as a control (0.5% CMC, 10ml/kg, p.o.). Groups II, III and IV were treated with Diosgenin (100mg/kg, p.o.), Silymarin (100mg/kg, p.o.) and combination of Diosgenin (50mg/kg, p.o.) + Silymarin (50mg/kg, p.o.), respectively. For the phenobarbitone-induced sleeping test, rats were pre-treated with the standard and the test drugs 30 minutes prior to the administration of phenobarbitone sodium (40mg/kg, body weight, i.p.). The parameters like onset of sleep and duration of sleep was recorded on each animal. Diosgenin and Silymarin, given at a dose of 100mg/kg, each, shown significant decrease in duration of sleeping time in rats with P value less than 0.05, compared with control group of animals. The same two bioactive compounds when given in combination (50mg/kg, p.o., each), shown significant antidepressant-like effect, potentially. The result concluded that, the bioactive compounds, Diosgenin and Silymarin, in combination could exert a synergistic antidepressant-like action on phenobarbitone-induced sleeping time in rats.