The Antidepressant Activity of Matricaria chamomilla and Melissa officinalis Ethanolic Extracts in Non-Reserpinized and Reserpinized Balb/C Mice

Abstract

Background: Matricaria chamomilla and Melissa officinalis have been used as antidepressants in traditional Iranian medicine. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Matricaria chamomilla and Melissa officinalis extracts compared to the classic antidepressant drug, imipramine, in adult non-reserpinized and reserpinized mice through the forced swim test. Methods: In the current experimental study, 80 mice were divided into 10 groups. The first group received normal saline and the second and third groups received 25 and 50 mg/kg of Matricaria chamomilla extract, respectively. The fourth and the fifth groups received 25 and 50 mg/kg of Melissa officinalis extract. The sixth group received imipramine at a dose of 15 mg/kg. The seventh group received 5 mg/kg of reserpine and normal saline. The eighth and ninth groups received 25 and 50 mg/kg of Melissa officinalis and Matricaria chamomilla extracts, respectively. The tenth group was given imipramine through intraperitoneal (I.P) injection. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's post hoc test in SPSS. Results: Matricaria chamomilla (50 mg/kg), Melissa officinalis (25 mg/kg), and imipramine (15 mg/kg) in non-reserpinized mice significantly decreased the duration of immobility in the forced swim test compared to the control group (P < 0.01). There was a reduction in the duration of immobility in the reserpinized mice administered Matricaria chamomilla at a dose of 50 mg/kg compared to the positive control group (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Matricaria chamomilla and Melissa officinalis have antidepressant effects and may be taken into consideration in treating patients suffering from depression.

Protective Effects of Crude Flavonoids And Alkaloids Extracts of Matricaria Chamomilla L. in Chicks against Pentylenetetrazole-induced Convulsions

“…Furthermore, sodium valproate decreases the brain glutamate level by inhibition of voltage-gated sodium channels, and preventing action potential firing (Zawab and Carmody, 2014). The present results are consistent with Kumar et al, (2016), who reported that pretreatment with sodium valproate led to substantial rise the GABA level in brain tissue.…”

“…It was well-known that PTZ triggers the production of free radicals. In addition, free radicals have an important role in the development and pathogenesis of convulsive seizures (Kumar et al, 2016). The development of convulsive seizures induces decreasing the antioxidant defense mechanism and increasing the generation of free radicals, which further induces the oxidative stress (Borowicz-Reutt and Czuczwar, 2020).…”

“…Matricaria chamomilla L., also known as German chamomile, is a traditional herbal medicine belonging to the family Asteraceae, and it is considered as miracle plant and consumed around the world as herbal tea (El Mihyaoui et al, 2022). Experimental studies have demonstrated that the chamomile extracts possess several biological properties, such as anticonvulsant (Numan et al, 2014), antioxidant (Al-Dabbagh et al, 2019), antidepressant (Namjou et al, 2018), anxiolytic (Ionita et al, 2019), as the plant extracts are rich in different bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, saponins, glycosides, and cardiac glycosides (El Mihyaoui et al, 2022).…”

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“…Furthermore, flavones can bind to GABA-A, which can have soothing and relaxing effects. Dietary flavonoids have multiple neuroprotective actions in central nervous pathophysiological conditions, including depression, and it was reported that naringenin can cause a potent antidepressant-like impact via central serotonergic and noradrenergic systems 19 . Radu et al investigated the effects of the M. chamomilla (chamomile) hydroalcoholic extract on anxiety and depression using a scopolamine rat model.…”

Anticonvulsant and antioxidant activities of crude flavonoid extract of Matricaria chamomilla L. against convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazole in chicks

“…Matricaria chamomilla L. (MC), commonly known as German chamomile, is a traditional medicinal plant belonging to the Asteraceae family (7). Experimental studies have shown that the plant extracts possess a diverse range of medicinal properties such as anticonvulsant (8), antioxidant (9), antidepressant (10), anxiolytic (11), treatment of upper respiratory tract infection (12), and dermatitis (13), as it is rich in different bioactive compounds such as flavonoids (apigenin, quercetin, and luteolin), chamazulene, bisabolol, coumarins, and terpenoids (14).…”