Antidepressant Like Effects of Alternanthera sessilis and Clerodendrum infortunatum Leaves Extract in Immobility Models

The present study was aimed at assessing the anti-depressant activity of the alcoholic extracts of the leaves of Alternanthera sessilis and Clerodendrum infortunatum. The activity was studied on Swiss Albino mice using the Tail Suspension Test and the Forced Swim Test, at doses of 100mg/kg b.w. and 20 mg/kg b.w. with Diazepam as the standard drug. Both the extracts, at higher dose, exhibited significant reduction in the duration of immobility. The alcoholic extract of Clerodendrum infortunatum was the most active extract in both the animal models, at a dose of 200 mg/kg b.w. Thus this study verifies the claims of antidepressant activity of these plants in the tradional medicine.