Effect of ethanol Adiantum capillus-veneris extract in experimental models of anxiety and depression

Abstract

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders with a prevalence of 15%-25%. Monoamine aminotransferases, in particular, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, change in the brain of depressed people. Adiantum capillus-veneris is one of the species of the maidenhair fern genus that have traditionally been used to treat cough, cold symptoms, and local hair loss.In this experimental study, white male rats weighing 250-300 g were assigned to 5 groups of 10 each; group 1: Receiving normal saline; groups 2-4: Receiving A.capillus-veneris extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, respectively; and group 5: Receiving fluoxetine at 10 mg/kg. Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) was induced by 3-week exposure to chronic stress. The forced swim test and plus maze were used to assess depression and anxiety, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and antioxidant capacity in the serum and brain were measured. Treatment with A.capillus-veneris extract at 200 mg/kg significantly reduced the duration of immobility. In the group given extract at 200 mg/kg, a significant increase in the number of open arm entries was observed when compared to the control group. A.capillus-veneris extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg resulted in a significant increase in the time spent in the open arm. A.capillus-veneris extract reduced MDA levels and increased antioxidant levels of serum and brain in rat. A.capillus-veneris has significant antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects in rat, probably due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Antidepressant Effects of South African Plants: An Appraisal of Ethnobotanical Surveys, Ethnopharmacological and Phytochemical Studies

“…Several biological assays have been used to investigate the antidepressant-like effects of South African medicinal plants, including in vitro biological assays ( Nielsen et al, 2004 ; Sandager et al, 2005 ; Neergaard et al, 2009 ; Harvey et al, 2011 ; Stafford et al, 2013 ) and in vivo assays conducted using rodent models of depression ( Machado et al, 2007 ; Machado et al, 2009 ; El-Alfy et al, 2010 ; Ahmadpoor et al, 2019 ; Rabiei and Setorki, 2019 ). The mechanism of action of most psychoactive compounds involves endocrine modulation of specific molecules in the CNS, modification of multiple biological effects on reuptake and/or receptor binding of various monoamines and interacting with neuronal receptors ( Saki et al, 2014 ; Alrashedy and Molina, 2016 ).…”

<em>In-vitro</em> Study of Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties of <em>Adiantum capillus-veneris</em> L. Essential Oil

“…Herbal medicines are the primary source of primary health care in many countries [4], and today about 80% of the world's population is still dependent on traditional medicines [5]. Adiantum capillus-veneris L. (figure 1) is a woody plant with a height of 35 cm that has a creeping rhizome [6,7]. Its dried roots are used as medicine, and its leaves are covered with coats.…”