traditional use and pharmacological potential of selected medicinal plants in the management of depression

Depression is a prevalent and debilitating psychiatric disorder with multifactorial etiology involving genetic predisposition, chronic stress, and disturbances in neurobiological systems, particularly those associated with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (bdnf). bdnf plays a central role in neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal survival, and many synthetic antidepressants exert their effect by enhancing bdnf signaling in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus (aan het rot et al., 2009; el-hage et al., 2013; popova et al., 2017). medicinal plants, rich in bioactive compounds, have long been used in traditional medicine for mental health conditions. hypericum perforatum, ginkgo biloba, and lavandula angustifolia are among the most studied, with constituents such as hypericin, hyperforin, flavonoid glycosides, terpene lactones, linalool, and linalyl acetate contributing to their antidepressant and anxiolytic effects (akhondzadeh et al., 2003; büyükkaya, 2009; diken, 2009; filippini et al., 2010; kara, 2011; malçok, 2009). several other plants used in turkish folk medicine—matricaria chamomilla, ocimum basilicum, juglans regia, among others—are employed for their calming and mood-stabilizing properties (gürdal & kültür, 2013; yıldız, 2007; önenç & açıkgöz, 2011). among these, papaver species stand out due to their historical and cultural significance in anatolia. notably, papaver rhoeas and papaver lateritium have been used as sedatives and antidepressants in various regions. the genus is phytochemically rich, especially in isoquinoline alkaloids (e.g., morphine, codeine, thebaine) and flavonoids, although their antidepressant effects remain underexplored in modern pharmacology (akbulut & bayramoğlu, 2013; altundağ & öztürk, 2011; hasplova et al., 2010). in addition to papaver, numerous other herbs show cns activity relevant to depression. for instance, zingiber officinale, tilia argentea, mentha x piperita, cinnamomum aromaticum, portulaca oleracea, and spinacia oleracea possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, serotonergic, and neuroprotective properties, which may contribute to their traditional use in mood disorders (altuğ, 2010; uzun, 2010; yaylacı, 2013). this review aims to consolidate ethnobotanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological findings related to traditional plants used in the management of depressive symptoms. the evidence indicates a strong need for further mechanistic studies and clinical validation of these species to support their integration into modern therapeutic strategies.