Evaluation of the Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Effects of Alcoholic Extract of Kaempferia parviflora in Aged Rats

To date, the search for novel pharmacotherapy from medicinal plants for psychiatric illnesses has significantly progressed. The present study was performed to evaluate the anxiolytic and antidepressant like activities of the K.parviflora rhizome extract. Aged male Wistar rats were orally administered the alcoholic extract of this plant at various doses ranging from 100, 200 and 300 mg kg-1 BW once daily for 7 days. The anxiolytic and antidepressant activities were performed after both single and repetitive treatment for 7 days using elevated plus maze and forced swimming tests respectively. The results showed that the extract decreased immobility time with the increase swimming time. However, no changes in number of open arm entries and time spent in open arm were observed. These results suggested the anti-depression activity of the plant extract. Therefore, K.parviflora may be served as a potential resource for natural psychotherapeutic agent against depression. However, further studies were still required.