Chemical and biological evaluation of Diospyros kaki Linn. fruit extracts for antidepressant activity using chronic unpredictable stress model

Abstract

Depression is one of the major concerns in the current scenario. Many hypotheses work for the pathological concepts of it, but there is not one targeted mechanism for antidepressant drugs. The major gap is that antidepressant medications, especially the MAO inhibitors and SSRIs themselves, cause major depressive disorder on long-term use. Diospyros kaki Linn., Ebenaceae, raw fruits have been used as supplements since primitive times. Depression was induced with exposure to various stressors under the Chronic Unpredictable Stress model. Rats were divided into five groups, each group consisting of six rats: Group I Normal Control (Distilled water + 0.5% tween 80 p.o.), Group II Diseased Control- Animals with Chronic Unpredictable Stress (CUS), Group III Standard Treatment Group – CUS + Imipramine (15mg/kg., p.o.), Group IV Ethanolic extract of Diospyros kaki (Linn.) fruits 200 mg/kg., p.o. + CUS and Group V Aqueous extract of Diospyros kaki (Linn.) fruits 200 mg/kg., p.o. + CUS. CUS-treated rats were given a dose of both extracts or a standard dose orally for 36 days straight, except for the disease control until the behavioural test was finished. Finally, after the completion of the dosing, behavioural parameters were performed, and animals were sacrificed to estimate biochemical parameters from each group. Increased antioxidant levels, decreased oxidative stress, amount of monoamine oxidase in brain tissue, immobility time in tail suspension and forced swimming test, number of squares crossed and reared in open field test, and sucrose-like test were all improved with the treatment of ethanolic and aqueous extract of fruit Diospyros kaki Linn. all sign and symptoms were improved with the treatment of both extracts in rats with chronic unpredictable stress. The study revealed that the fruit of Diospyros kaki Linn. can improve depression and has the potential to be used as an antidepressant.