the antidepressant activity of matricaria chamomilla and melissa officinalis ethanolic extracts in non-reserpinized and reserpinized balb/c mice

Background: matricaria chamomilla and melissa officinalis have been used as antidepressants in traditional iranian medicine. objectives: the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of matricaria chamomilla and melissa officinalis extracts compared to the classic antidepressant drug, imipramine, in adult non-reserpinized and reserpinized mice through the forced swim test. methods: in the current experimental study, 80 mice were divided into 10 groups. the first group received normal saline and the second and third groups received 25 and 50 mg/kg of matricaria chamomilla extract, respectively. the fourth and the fifth groups received 25 and 50 mg/kg of melissa officinalis extract. the sixth group received imipramine at a dose of 15 mg/kg. the seventh group received 5 mg/kg of reserpine and normal saline. the eighth and ninth groups received 25 and 50 mg/kg of melissa officinalis and matricaria chamomilla extracts, respectively. the tenth group was given imipramine through intraperitoneal (i.p) injection. statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance (anova) followed by tukey’s post hoc test in spss. results: matricaria chamomilla (50 mg/kg), melissa officinalis (25 mg/kg), and imipramine (15 mg/kg) in non-reserpinized mice significantly decreased the duration of immobility in the forced swim test compared to the control group (p< 0.01). there was a reduction in the duration of immobility in the reserpinized mice administered matricaria chamomilla at a dose of 50 mg/kg compared to the positive control group (p < 0.01). conclusions: matricaria chamomilla and melissa officinalis have antidepressant effects and may be taken into consideration in treating patients suffering from depression.