Summary

Antidepressant Effect of Ethanol Extract from Polyscias fruticosa Leaves

Polyscias fruticosa, a plant in Araliaceae family, has been used as a tonic and plant adaptogen. It is easily cultivated as compared with other plants in Araliaceae family. Recently, the total extract of Polyscias fruticosa root-leaves has been reported to have antidepressant effect in forced swimming test. The present study investigated the antidepressant effects of ethanol extract (48% and 96% ethanol) from Polyscias fruticosa leaves on normal mice (unstressed mice) and socially isolated mice (stressed mice) evaluated by forced swimming test. The results showed that the single dose of either 96% ethanol extract or 48% ethanol extract had no antidepressant effect. However, repeated doses for 7 days of these extracts increased the swimming activity and decreased the immobility time of unstressed mice and stressed mice. These findings suggested for the antidepressant effect of Polyscias fruticosa leaves.

Keywords: Polyscias fruticosa leaves, ethanol extract, forced swimming test, socially isolated stress

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