World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

EVALUATION OF ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF ARILS OF MYRISTICA FRAGRANCE IN ANIMAL MODELS

Uzma Viquar*, Mohammad Zakir, Mir Yousuf Ali, Munawwar Husain Kazmi and Ghousia Tabassum

ABSTRACT

In Unani literature Mufarrih (exhilarant and mood elevator) terms are used at many places. Mufarrih-i-Qalb means having exhilarant and mood elevator action on heart which gives Farhat (pleasant feeling) to the brain which in other words means making a person to feel happy. There are so many drugs in literature which have Mufarrih action, one such drug is Bisbasa (arils of Myristica fragrance Houtt.) commonly called as mace. The present study was carried out to investigate the antidepressant activity of arils of M. fragrance using Forced swimming test (FST) and Tail suspension test (TST) in rats and mice respectively. Petroleum ether extract (Fixed oil) and volatile oil of arils of M. fragrance was used in the dose of 43 mg/kg bw. Immobility period was decreased significantly by fixed oil (FO) and volatile oil (FO) obtained from arils of M. fragrance in both type of test in rats and mice. It has been observed that FO have greater antidepressant action than the VO but both have produced significant antidepressant activity.

[Full Text Article]   [Download Certificate]