Evaluation of antidepressant activity of ethanolic extract of Mimosa pudica in swiss albino mice

Introduction: Depression is a widely prevalent form of mental illnesses worldwide. It is commonly associated with sad mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, and low energy. Mimosa pudica has many medicinal properties, and are used in traditional medicine in the treatment of various medical conditions. This study was conducted to better understand the antidepressant activity of Mimosa pudica. Objective: To evaluate the potential antidepressant activity of Ethanolic Extract of Mimosa pudica (EEMP) leaves on depression in Swiss Albino mice. Materials and Methods: Swiss albino mice of either sex weighing 20-30g were used. Sixty mice were divided into two arms. Each arm was further divided into five groups (n=6). Drugs were given orally once daily, for ten days. Group 1 was the Control group and received saline. Group 2 received standard drug – Imipramine (15mg/kg). Group 3 received EEMP (100mg/kg). Group 4 received EEMP (200mg/kg). Group 5 received EEMP (400mg/kg). Antidepressant potential of EEMP was evaluated by submitting the mice to Forced Swim Test (FST) and Tail Suspension Test (TST) on the first and tenth day. Results: The study showed significant reduction in immobility time in both Forced Swim Test and Tail Suspension Test in the EEMP group when compared with the control group. Conclusion: The study suggests that Ethanolic Extract of Mimosa pudica has anti-depressant activity and can be considered for use in therapy of depression after further testing. Keywords: Antidepressant, Forced swim test, Mimosa pudica, Tail suspension test.