Antidepressant like activity of aqueous extract of Cymbopogon citratus leaves in albino mice

The study was undertaken to evaluate the antidepressant activity of aqueous extract of Cymbopogon citratus leaves in albino mice using forced swim and tail suspension test. The study comprised of five treatment groups all with six animals in each group. Group I was normal control, group II was imipramine (10mg/kg) and group III, IV and V received Cymbopogon citratus orally at the dose of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg respectively. Drugs were given one hour before the experiment in acute study, whereas for chronic study drugs were given for 14 days and experiment was carried out one hour after administration of the drug on the 14th day. The duration of immobility was compared between groups. At the end of the study, in forced swim test, acute and chronic treatment with Cymbopogon citratus at all three doses showed a significant reduction in duration of immobility when compared to normal control. In tail suspension test, acute treatment with Cymbopogon citratus did not show significant reduction in duration of immobility when compared to normal control at all three doses. But in chronic study, 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg groups showed a significant decrease in duration of immobility when compared to normal control.