Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Effects and Subacute Toxicity of the Aerial Parts of J.B.Hall (Rubiaceae) in Murine Models.

Background: The present study aimed at validating the traditional use and toxicity profile of a methanolic extract of the aerial parts of in alleviating depression and anxiety disorders.

Method: The antidepressant effect of methanolic extract of (PAE 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, .) was assessed in mice using the forced swim test (FST) and the tail suspension test (TST). The plant's anxiolytic potential was also evaluated in mice using the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and the open field tests (OFT). The subacute toxicity was assessed via oral administration of PAE at doses of 100, 300, and 1000 mg/kg in rats for 28 days.

Results: PAE 100 and 300 mg/kg showed antidepressant-like properties by significantly (at least < 0.05) decreasing the frequency and duration of immobility in FST and TST. PAE (100 and 300 mg/kg) also showed a significant (at least < 0.05) anxiolytic effect in both EPM and OFT. In the EPM test, for PAE and diazepam were 92.52 ± 40.11% and 85.95 ± 45.92%, respectively, whereas was approximately 100% for both test drugs in the OFT. Subacute administration of PAE did not reveal any toxic effects with respect to organ weight index, haematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological parameters.

Conclusions: Methanolic extract of exhibited antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects devoid of significant toxicity at the doses tested in murine models.