Phenol Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Selected Ethnic Plant Foods: Alleviation of Experimental Depression.

This article describes the antioxidant capacity (AC) and total phenol content (TPC) of selected ethnic plant foods and their therapeutic uses in alleviating experimental stress-induced depression in rat model. Antioxidant capacity was determined by radical scavenging activity and TPC was estimated by Folin-Ciocalteau method. Depression was induced by chemical stressor- reserpine. Alleviation of depression by the ethnic foods was evaluated by behavioral changes in Forced Swim Test (FST) and Tail Suspension Test (TST), and by analysis of oxidative stress marker Malondialdehyde (MDA), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and change of weight of adrenal gland and brain. Antioxidant capacity was determined by IC50 value, which was ranged from 74.814 µg/ml to 411.895 µg/ml. The lowest IC50 value indicates the strongest antioxidant activity. Hence, the strongest AC was found in Gondhovatali followed by Sabarang and Titbegun. TPC ranged from 85.5 ± 5.51 to 650 ± 2.75 mgGAE/100g. Jaamalu was found to have the highest TPC value followed by Gondhovatali, Titbegun and Khudemanik. The difference among experimental and control groups was found to be significant in the weight of adrenal gland and brain. Biochemical stress indicators (MDA, FBG) and behavioral tests (TST, FST) showed significant differences among plant extract fed groups compared to that of depressed control group, but was found to be almost similar to antidepressant clomipramine treated and baseline control groups. The data indicated that the selected ethnic plant foods containing higher TPC and lower IC50 values significantly alleviated depression symptoms in the rats.