Comprehensive Pharmacological Screening Of Habenaria Intermedia D. Don Tubers For Anti-Depressant Activity

Abstract

Although Habenaria intermedia D. Don (Vriddhi; Orchidaceae) has been used historically to alleviate depression, its traditional uses have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, it was intended to use the forced swim test to examine the antidepressant properties of different extracts and fractions of Habenaria intermedia tubers. Habenaria intermedia tubers that had been correctly identified were extracted in a methodical and thorough manner utilizing solvents in ascending order of polarity, namely n-hexane, chloroform, methanol, and water. Only crude extracts rich in phytoconstituents were tested for antidepressant effects in mice at dosages of 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg, p.o. A statistical comparison was made between the effectiveness of Habenaria intermedia tubers and imipramine, a common antidepressant medication (15 mg/kg, i.p.).At 400 mg/kg, the methanol extract was statistically equal to the standard medication and the only one of the two extracts to show maximum antidepressant efficacy when compared to the control. n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and 1-butanol were the solvents used to partition the bioactive methanol extract in ascending order of polarity. Additionally, mice were given dosages of 25 or 50 mg/kg, p.o., of all fractions to test their antidepressant properties. At a dose of 50 mg/kg, only the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) demonstrated significant antidepressant effect comparable to the standard medication. Current research has confirmed traditional statements about the antidepressant properties of Habenaria intermedia tubers. According to phytochemical research, phenolic and flavonoid chemicals found in Habenaria intermedia tubers may be useful in the treatment of depression disorders.