Effect of Hydroalcoholic extract of Mimosa Pudica Linn. with Imipramine and Fluoxetine on Reserpine-induced Behavioural Despair in Rats

Depression and related mood disorders are among the world’s greatest public health problems. Mimosa pudica L. (MP), a creeping perennial herb exhibits analgesic, anxiolytic, diuretic, antiasthmatic, hepatoprotective activities. Although, previous study reveal antidepressant like effects of aqueous extract of MP at behavioral levels, but antidepressant like effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Mimosa pudica L. (HEMP) and its combinational effect with standard antidepressant drugs at behavioral and biochemical level is not scientifically evaluated. Hence, the present investigation evaluates the antidepressant activity of HEMP and its interaction with fluoxetine and imipramine in reserpine-induced behavioural despair in rats and the potential mechanism involved in HEMP action. HEMP at doses 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg p.o., fluoxetine at 5 & 20mg/kg p.o., imipramine at 5 & 15 mg/kg p.o. and reserpine 6 mg/kg i.p. were administered to different groups of rat (n=6). After reserpine treatment, rats were subjected to forced swimming test followed by assessment of locomotor activity. Rats were sacrificed after behavioural study for estimation of serotonin, monoamine oxidase (MAO) levels in rat brain. Results demonstrate that combination of subeffective doses of HEMP, fluoxetine and imipramine reduced the duration of immobility in forced swimming test, increased serotonin and decreased MAO-A and MAO-B enzyme levels in reserpine treated rats. These findings suggest that combination of HEMP with standard drugs in subeffective doses can exert potential antidepressant like effect through modulation of brain serotonergic system and MAO inhibition.