Pharmacology Division, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana, India.
Indian J Pharmacol. 2008 Aug;40(4):175-9. doi: 10.4103/0253-7613.43165.
The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of the ethanolic extract of Allium sativum L. (Family: Lilliaceae), commonly known as garlic, on depression in mice.
Ethanolic extract of garlic (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) was administered orally for 14 successive days to young Swiss albino mice of either sex and antidepressant-like activity was evaluated employing tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST). The efficacy of the extract was compared with standard antidepressant drugs like fluoxetine and imipramine. The mechanism of action of the extract was investigated by co-administration of prazosin (alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist), sulpiride (selective D2-receptor antagonist), baclofen (GABA(B) agonist) and p-CPA (serotonin antagonist) separately with the extract and by studying the effect of the extract on brain MAO-A and MAO-B levels.
Garlic extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly decreased immobility time in a dose-dependent manner in both TST and FST, indicating significant antidepressant-like activity. The efficacy of the extract was found to be comparable to fluoxetine (20 mg/kg p.o.) and imipramine (15 mg/kg p.o.) in both TST and FST. The extract did not show any significant effect on the locomotor activity of the mice. Prazosin, sulpiride, baclofen and p-CPA significantly attenuated the extract-induced antidepressant-like effect in TST. Garlic extract (100 mg/kg) administered orally for 14 successive days significantly decreased brain MAO-A and MAO-B levels, as compared to the control group.
Garlic extract showed significant antidepressant-like activity probably by inhibiting MAO-A and MAO-B levels and through interaction with adrenergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic and GABAergic systems.
本研究旨在探讨大蒜（百合科）的乙醇提取物对小鼠抑郁的影响。
连续 14 天给雄性和雌性青年瑞士白化小鼠口服给予大蒜乙醇提取物（25、50 和 100mg/kg），并通过悬尾试验（TST）和强迫游泳试验（FST）评估抗抑郁样活性。将提取物的功效与氟西汀和丙咪嗪等标准抗抑郁药进行比较。通过与提取物共同给予哌唑嗪（α1-肾上腺素受体拮抗剂）、舒必利（选择性 D2-受体拮抗剂）、巴氯芬（GABA（B）激动剂）和 p-CPA（5-羟色胺拮抗剂），并研究提取物对脑 MAO-A 和 MAO-B 水平的影响，来研究提取物的作用机制。
大蒜提取物（25、50 和 100mg/kg）在 TST 和 FST 中均呈剂量依赖性显著减少不动时间，表明具有显著的抗抑郁样活性。提取物的功效在 TST 和 FST 中与氟西汀（20mg/kg 口服）和丙咪嗪（15mg/kg 口服）相当。提取物对小鼠的运动活动没有显示出任何显著影响。哌唑嗪、舒必利、巴氯芬和 p-CPA 显著减弱了 TST 中提取物诱导的抗抑郁样作用。连续 14 天口服给予 100mg/kg 大蒜提取物可显著降低脑 MAO-A 和 MAO-B 水平，与对照组相比。
大蒜提取物可能通过抑制 MAO-A 和 MAO-B 水平，并通过与肾上腺素能、多巴胺能、5-羟色胺能和 GABA 能系统相互作用，表现出显著的抗抑郁样活性。
