Coriandrum sativum: A Successful Treatment for Depression Compared to Fluoxetine (An Animal Study)

Abstract

Background: Depression is a far more devastating to healthy state than chronic physical illnesses. In many cases, diagnosis of depression is difficult which makes physicians unable to design rational therapeutic prescription. Coriandrum sativum (CS) has been investigated for gastrointestinal related disorders but its association with depression has not been fully explored. The study aimed to evaluate the antidepressant activity of Coriandrum sativum extract with fluoxetine drug in animal models of depression.

Methods: It was a preclinical study. Total 40 mice were divided into 6 groups i.e., Group 1 control (0.9% NaCl I.P), Group 2 Fluoxetine (0.5 mg/kg i.p.), Group 3, 4, 5 Coriandrum sativum (1.6 mg/kg, 3.2 mg/kg, 6.4 mg/kg, respectively). The 3.2mg/kg of CS was the most effective immobility dose which was used for locomotor test. The locomotor test was performed on group 6 (10 mice) after induction of depression via forced swimming test to rule out central nervous system (CNS) stimulatory effect. ANOVA was applied for the Forced Swimming Test (FST) while paired t-test used for locomotor activity. p ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Fluoxetine and Coriandrum sativum showed statistically significant decrement (p=0.002) reduction in immobility time compared to control animals. The dose of 3.2 mg/kg, CS caused a highly significant reduction in immobility time (p-value 0.001), compared to fluoxetine. Pre- and post-analysis of locomotor activity in Group 6 did not exhibit any significant change in control counts (241.4) compared to test counts (241.5).

Conclusion: The diethyl ether extract of Coriandrum sativum was found to possess antidepressant activity similar to the standard prescription drug.

Keywords: Depression; Forced Swimming Test (FST); Coriandrum sativum (CS) Extract; Fluoxetine.