Evaluation of Antidepressant activity of Shilajit in experimental animals

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is a serious medical (mental) illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. The presently using drugs can impose a variety of side-effects including cardiac toxicity, hypopiesia, sexual dysfunction, body weight gain, and sleep disorder. During the last decade, there is a growing interest in the therapeutic effects of natural products on mental disorders. Shilajit was investigation for antidepressant activity.

Methods: Antidepressant activity of pure Shilajit was investigated by using Forced swimming test (FST) and Tail suspension test (TST) and Open square test (OST) models. Lead acetate and Imipramine were used as reference standards.

Results: It has been observed from our study that both the MEAS at higher concentration showed significant (p<0.01) reduction in immobility in tail suspension and forced swim model of depression comparable to Lead acetate and Imipramine.

Discussion: However further study is needed to understand mechanism of action and to identify active component responsible for antidepressant like activity.