Antidepressant-like Activity of Celastrus paniculatus Seed Oil in Mice Subjected to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress

Aims: The present study was done to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of Celastrus paniculatus seed oil in Swiss young albino mice subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress.
Study Design: Prospective.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana, India, between August 2012 to February 2013.
Methodology: The behavioral models such as forced swim test (FST) and sucrose preference test were used to evaluate the effect of seed oil on depression in mice. The oil (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg, p.o.) per se were administered for 14 successive days to unstressed and stressed mice. The effect of oil on locomotor activity of mice was also evaluated. In addition, the effects of oil on brain monoamine oxidase-A, malondialdehyde levels, reduced glutathione and catalase activities; and plasma corticosterone and nitrite levels were also assessed.
Results: The oil significantly decreased immobility period of both unstressed and stressed mice in FST as compared to the control. The oil also prevented the stress-induced decrease in sucrose preference, indicating significant antidepressant-like activity. There was no significant effect on locomotor activity of mice by the oil. Antidepressant-like activity of the oil was comparable to the standard drug, fluoxetine. The oil also significantly decreased monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) activity, malondialdehyde levels in both unstressed and stressed mice; and significantly prevented stress-induced decrease in reduced glutathione and catalase activities. It also significantly attenuated stress induced-increase in plasma nitrite and corticosterone levels.
Conclusion: Celastrus paniculatus seed oil showed significant antidepressant-like activity in both unstressed and chronic unpredictable mild stressed mice probably due to inhibition of MAO-A activity, decrease in plasma nitrite levels; and through scavenging of free radicals. In addition, the oil also showed antidepressant-like activity in stressed mice probably through decrease in plasma corticosterone levels.