Decreased brain serotonin turnover rate following administration of Sharbat-e-Ahmed Shah produces antidepressant and anxiolytic effect in rats

Sharbat-e-Ahmed Shah (SAS) has usually been used in Traditional Unani Medicine (TUM) for depression and insomnia but still not evaluated for its anti-depressant and Neuropharmacological activity. In the present study, a Human dose of SAS (0.6 ml/kg/d) was administered orally to the rats for 15 consecutive days. Antidepressant and anxiolytic were screened scientifically in rats by using Forced swim test and light and dark box test. At the end of study high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with electrochemical (EC) detector was used for the measurement of blood and brain tryptophan and brain serotonin levels. The present reported results are according to what is known in TUM, where is prescribed as an antidepressant agent. After the administration, SAS (at a human dose for 15 days) reduced the immobility time in rats analogous to Imipramine (positive control) indicating the antidepressant effect of SAS. In the present study, Diazepam or SAS (0.6 ml/kg/day) treated rats stayed in the illuminated side of the light–dark box, as compare to control rats (Veh, 134.62 ± 4.430 s; SAS 0.6 ml/kg, 192.2 ± 8.11 s; DZP 1.0 mg/kg, 205.21.20 ± 10.26 s, p < 0.05). It was also observed that SAS increased the availability of tryptophan in blood and brain and hence increases 5-hydroxytryptamine (Serotonin: 5HT) in the brain. At the end, it was concluded that SAS contains some active principles which increase the availability of neurochemical (tryptophan and 5HT) and decrease the 5HT turnover rate thus causes antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in experimental animals.