Anti-Depressant Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Citrullus vulgaris Seeds in Experimentally Induced Depressed Mice

Mental depression is a chronic illness that affects a person's mood, thoughts, physical health and behaviour. Currently used antidepressant drugs such as tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are showing various side effects and thus, the search for a new antidepressant herb without side effects is important. The present work was aimed to study the antidepressant activity of ethanolic extract of Citrullus vulgarsis (Cucurbitaceae) at doses of 100mg and 200mg/kg against forced swimming test and tail suspension test in mice. Imipramine (30mg/kg, i.p) was used as reference standard and it showed significant antidepressant activity in rodents. The anti-depressant effects of Citrullus vulgaris in FST and TST were more prominent at 200 mg/kg when compared to lower dose of same fraction. The significant antidepressant effects of Citrullus vulgaris could be due to strong and effective concentration of the active constituent. In conclusion, the present study suggested that Citrullus vulgarsis extract possesses potential antidepressant effects which could be of therapeutic interest for using in the treatment of patients with depressive disorders.