Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2014 Oct;18(5):365-369. 10.4196/kjpp.2014.18.5.365.

Atypical Antidepressant Activity of 3,4-Bis(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl) Furan-2,5-Dione Isolated from Heart Wood of Cedrus deodara, in Rodents

• Kumar N
• Dhayabaran D
• Nampoothiri M
• Nandakumar K
• Puratchikody A
• Lalani N
• Dawood K
• Ghosh A

• KMID: 2285533
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2014.18.5.365

Abstract

Cedrus deodara (Pinaceae) has been used traditionally in Ayurveda for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. 3,4-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)furan-2,5-dione (BDFD) was isolated from heart wood of Cedrus deodara and was shown to have antiepileptic and anxiolytic activity. Thus, the present study was aimed to explore its anti-depressant effect and to correlate the effect with serotonin and nor adrenaline levels of brain. Albino mice were used as experimental animal. Animals were divided in to three groups; vehicle control, imipramine (30 mg/kg i.p.), BDFD (100 mg/kg i.p.). Tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) was performed to evaluate antidepressant effect of BDFD. BDFD (100 mg/kg, i.p.) showed a significant decrease in immobility time when subjected to FST whereas immobility time was not significantly altered in TST. BDFD treatment increased serotonin and noradrenaline levels in the brain which is indicative of BDFD having possible atypical antidepressant action.

Keyword

Anti-depressant; Cedrus; Noradrenaline; Serotonin

MeSH Terms

Animals
Brain
Cedrus*
Central Nervous System Diseases
Epinephrine
Heart*
Hindlimb Suspension
Imipramine
Mice
Norepinephrine
Rodentia*
Serotonin
Wood*
Epinephrine
Imipramine
Norepinephrine
Serotonin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Effect of BDFD and impiramine on immobility time in tail suspension test (TST). Data presented as mean±S.E.M. (n=6), where ***p<0.001 as compared to vehicle control group.

• 

  Fig. 2 Effect of BDFD and imipramine on immobility time in forced swim test (FST). Data presented as mean±S.E.M. (n=6), where ***p<0.001 as compared to vehicle control group, **p<0.01 as compared to vehicle control group.

• 

  Fig. 3 Effect of BDFD treatment on noradrenaline (NA) level. Data presented as mean±S.E.M. (n=6). ***p<0.001 as compared to vehicle control group.

• 

  Fig. 4 Effect of BDFD treatment on serotonin (5HT) levels in brain. Data presented as mean±S.E.M. (n=6). ***p<0.001 as compared to vehicle control group.

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