Ruchika Srivastava^1,, Dharamveer Panjwani², Sandeep Kumar Singh³, Babita Kumar¹, Ajeet ^1,

Depression is a most serious stress related mental disorder affecting 450 million people worldwide. Due to clinical limitation and adverse effects researchers have focused on novel pharmacotherapy for safe and efficient treatment of depression. The aim of present study is to investigate the antidepressant activity of Cordia dichotoma (Family-Boraginaceae).The plant was authenticated by NISCAIR Delhi (Reference letter no. NISCAIR/RHMD/ Consult/2013/2307/87). Swiss albino mice were selected & assigned to four group of six mice each, in which standard group was treated with imipramine (15 mg/kg) and control group was treated with CMC (0.25ml), test groups were treated with lower and higher dose of Ethanolic extract of Cordia dichotoma (EECD). All groups of animals were separately submitted to forced swim test (FST), Tail suspension test (TST) and open field test (OFT) for the bio-screening of fruit extract with antidepressant profile. Administration of higher and lower dose of Cordia dichotoma revealed a significant reduction in immobility time in forced swim and tail suspension test. The effect of extract was similar to imipramine and they may affect neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin. This herb might be considered as useful drug in the management of depression.

cordia dichotoma, forced swim test, tail suspension test, imipramine, CMC, open field test