Antidepressant-like activity of plumbagin in unstressed and stressed mice

Background: plumbagin has been reported to be neuroprotective,so it might possess antidepressant activity. therefore,the present study was designed to explore the antidepressant potential of plumbagin in unstressed and stressed mice. methods: depression-like behavior was induced in swiss male albino mice by subjecting them to unpredictable mild stress daily for 21 successive days. plumbagin (4,8 and 16 mg/kg,po) and imipramine (15 mg/kg,po) were administered for 3 successive weeks to separate groups of unstressed and stressed mice. tail suspension test and sucrose preference test were used to evaluate antidepressant effect of the drugs. results: highest dose (16 mg/kg) of plumbagin and imipramine significantly decreased immobility period of unstressed and stressed mice in tail suspension test as compared to their respective controls. these drugs significantly restored the reduced sucrose preference (%) in stressed mice. the drugs did not significantly affect locomotor activity of mice. antidepressant-like activity of plumbagin was found to be comparable to imipramine. plumbagin and imipramine significantly inhibited brain mao-a activity,decreased plasma nitrite,brain malondialdehyde and catalase levels; and increased reduced glutathione levels of unstressed and stressed mice. the drugs significantly reversed stress-induced increase in plasma corticosterone levels. conclusions: antidepressant-like activity of plumbagin in unstressed and stressed mice might be through inhibition of brain mao-a activity and improvement of antioxidant status. reversal of stress-induced increase in plasma corticosterone levels might also be responsible for antidepressant-like activity of plumbagin in stressed mice. © 2015 institute of pharmacology,polish academy of sciences. published by elsevier sp. z o.o. all rights reserved.