Anxiolytic and antidepressant potential of methanol leaf extract of Cassia singueana f. (fabaceae)

Depression belongs to a class of mental health disorders termed affective disorders.  Affective disorders are disorders related to mood rather than cognitive or thought disturbances. Anxiety is defined as an exaggerated feeling of apprehension, uncertainty and fear. It is an unpleasant state of tension with an anticipation of imminent danger. This research was aimed at evaluating the anxiolytic and antidepressant property of methanol leaf extract of Cassia singueana using Hole Board Test, Open field test, Force swim test and Tail suspension test. The anxiolytic activity was evaluated with adult mice using the hole-board test, elevated plus maze, and open field test. Thirty albino mice were used for each model at the dose of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg extract for second, third and fourth group respectively. First group is negative control that received distilled water and fifth received 1mg/kg diazepam. The antidepressant potential was evaluated using force swim test and tail suspension models. Thirty rats were used in each of the model, in which they were divided into five groups of six rats each. 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th group received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg extract respectively. The first group received distilled water and 5th group received Imipramine 10mg in both the two models. In the hole board test, the extract significantly (p<0.05) increased the number of head dips at 100mg/kg. At a dose of 200 mg/kg the extract prolonged the time spent in the open arm in the elevated plus maze. At the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, the extract increased the exploratory behavior in the open field test. In the forced swim and tail suspension test, Cassia singueana methanol leaf extract significantly reduced the duration of immobility of wistar rats. From this results obtained, it can be concluded Cassia singueana methanol leaf extract contained phytochemicals with possible anxiolytic and antidepressant activity.