The complementary study of Antidepressant and anxiolytic potential of Acorus calamus rhizome extract in rats

In present study Acorus calamus (AC) rhizome extract within two solvents (Methanol and Water) alone and combination with standard drug imipramine were tested for anxiolytic and antidepressant activity in rats. The anxiolytic effect of Methanol extract and Water extract were tested in rats using the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test, the hole-board test (HBT), and the light-dark box (LDB) test. Its antidepressant effect was evaluated by the tail suspension (TST) and the forced swim (FST) tests. The total alkaloid and flavonoid content were measured using standard colorimetric assays. The Methanol extract exhibited highest anxiolytic and antidepressant activity in rats among two extracts while Water extract exhibited moderate activity respectively. Methanol extract was further studied to dose dependent [250, 150.50 mg/kg body weight (b.wt,)] anxiolytic and antidepressant effect alone and in combination with imipramine (2,1.5, 1 mg/kg b.wt.), the combination of Methanol extract (250 mg/kg b. wt. and lower dose of imipramine 5 mg/kg b,wt.) has shown safer and potent anxiolytic as well as antidepressant while higher dose (250 mg/kg b. wt.of Methanol extract and 1.5 and 2 mg/kg b, wt.) of imipramine generated lethal effect in control animals. The result of present study shows that Methanol extract of AC rhizome has significantly anxiolytic antidepressant activity may use as a complementary medicine to treat anxiolytic (EPM, HBT and LDB) and antidepressant (TST and FST) by significantly reducing dose of standard drugs.