Evaluation of Antidepressant Like Activity of Extract of Boerhavia diffusa in Swiss Albino Mice

Depression often known as depressive disorder is described by a persistent lack of enjoyment, enthusiasm in pursuits, or melancholy feelings. Depression is not the same as normal mood swings and feelings about day-to-day living. It could affect every aspect of life, including relationships with friends, family, and the community. It could be brought on by or exacerbated by problems at work or in the classroom. This study aims to evaluate antidepressant like activity of ethanolic extract of roots of Boerhavia diffusa (Nyctaginaceae).  control and cure of this diseases, a vast variety of medications are used daily. The herbal drugs are biodegradable and are natural medications hence are becoming more and more popular. Using a Soxhlet equipment and a normal extraction procedure, the ethanolic extract was produced. The mice were administered several dosages of the extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) in addition to the vehicle (normal saline) for the control group & ARS (Acute Restraint Stress) Group and fluoxetine as the conventional medication. The mice were subjected to ARS and were treated with ethanolic extract of Boerhavia diffusa at a dose of 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg respectively. After that they were subjected to animal models, the tail suspension test (TST), force suspension test (FST) to assess the antidepressant potential and open field test (OFT), to assess locomotor & antidepressant potential of administered drug The TST revealed prolonged immobility in the BDEE (Boerhavia diffusa ethanolic extract) treated animals. The crossing over of squares activity in the OFT rose, indicating a decline in depression levels. The mice's FST revealed a decrease in their ability to reach the plateau stage following immobility. According to the study, BDEE demonstrates strong antidepressant effect and offer a natural alternative to pharmaceutical treatment for depression disorders. In futuristic study, further investigation is required to identify certain active molecules and have a deeper comprehension of the underlying processes of action. Keywords: Antidepressant activity, Boerhavia diffusa, Tail suspension test, Forced swim test, Open field test, Traditional medicine