Evaluation of Antidepressant Activity of Bauhinia variegata in Rats

2 Abstract: Objective: Bauhinia variegata (Caesalpiniaceae) also known as Mountain Ebony (English), Rakta kanchan (Marathi), Kachnar (Hindi). It is a medium-sized, deciduous tree, found throughout India, 1800m in Himalayas. Bauhinia variegata Linn. is traditionally used in bronchitis, leprosy and tumors. The stem bark is used as astringent, tonic and anthelmintic. Methods: This study was done to investigate the possible antidepressant effect of Bauhinia variegata plant extract (BVMEL) using Tail suspension test (TST), Forced swim test (FST) 24 Wistar Albino rats of either sex weighing between 150-200gm were randomly selected and divided into 4 equal groups. Group-I (control) received 1% gum acacia, Groups- II, III received BVMEL in doses of 100, 200 mg/kg orally (p.o.) respectively. Group IV (positive control) received Imipramine at doses of 15mg/kg p.o. Drug treatment was given for seven & fourteen successive days. After 60 minutes of the last dose of drug or standard the immobility period was recorded. Results revealed that in BVMEL produced significant antidepressant like effect at dose of 100 & 200 mg/kg administered for 7 & 14 consecutive days as indicated by reduction in immobility times of mice in TST & FST (P<0.05). The efficacy of BVMEL at 200mg/kg was found to be comparable to that of Imipramine at doses of 15mg/kg. In Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that BVMEL possesses significant antidepressant activity compared to that of Imipramine.