Neuropharmacological Evaluation of Areca catechu on Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Model of Depression in Mice: Behavioral and Biochemical Evidences

Abstract

Erratic chronic stresses can lead to the state identical to mental anxiety. The impact of free radicals in the pathogenesis of stress induced depression is significant. Arecoline alkaloid found in kernels of the Areca catechu seeds, has wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities. The objective of this research was to evaluate the protective effect of Areca catechu on chronic unpredictable mild stress prompted variations in behavioral and brain oxidative stress parameters in mice. Areca catechu nuts' antidepressant effect could well be attributed to the alkaloids and saponins found in them, according to physicochemical research. For a period of 2 weeks, the animals were acclimatized and their baseline sucrose preference test was performed. At the termination of the study period, all the animal were exposed to behavioral and biochemical tests. The aqueous extract of Areca catechu nut displayed significant antidepressant activity by forced swim test that was additionally established by the inviolate locomotor actions of animals in the open field and actophotometer activity. Finally, it was concluded that the increase of serotonin and noradrenaline in the areca nut may have an antidepressant impact in chronic unpredictable mild stress.