Antidepressant effects of ethanolic extract of Prunus mume flowers in mice model

 Antidepressant like effects of ethanolic extract of Prunus mume flowers in mice model

Descriptions

Plum Blossom

Scientific name: Prunus mume

Family: Rosaceae

Order: Rosales

Kingdom: Plantae

Plum blossoms emerge well before the leaves on Japanese apricot trees. The tree branches, barren from the loss of leaves in the fall, are covered in white, pink or red blooms. Plum blossoms range from 2 to almost 4 centimeters in diameter. The shape of the Plum blossoms will distinguish them from cherry blossoms. They have very round petals, and depending on the cultivar, can have anywhere from a single row of five petals to many rows of multiple petals. Some Prunus mume cultivars have a weeping habit. Plum blossoms are very fragrant with a scent described as spicy, sweet and flowery. The blossoms are entirely edible.

Plum blossoms are in bloom during the late winter and early spring months.

Current features

Plum blossoms, also known as Japanese apricot, are botanically classified as Prunus mume. In Japan and China, the popularity of the Plum blossom rivals that of the cherry blossom. Plum blossoms serve as symbols and are celebrated in festivals. In the United States, however, these trees are not as commonly known. The presence of Prunus mume in the United States is thanks in part to the work of two men, botanist Dr. J.C. Raulston of North Carolina State University and W. B. Clarke of San Jose, California. The largest collection of Prunus mume in the United States may be in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Nutritional facts

Plum blossoms have little nutritional value, though they may contain traces of the nutritional value of the fruits.

Uses

Plum blossoms can be used as a garnish or accent on baked goods or iced cakes. Plum blossoms can be used to adorn Korean sweet jeon or hwajeon, which are pan-fried sweet rice cakes, made with glutinous sweet rice flour. Add a few blossoms to a green salad for a punch of color. The blooms of the Japanese apricot can also be used to make a cordial or liquor. Use fresh blossoms immediately and store any others between layers of damp towels and wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator for a day or two.

Antidepressant activity tests

Forced swimming test (FST)

Forced swimming test or behavioral despair test for measuring the susceptibility to negative mood of mice’s threat of drowning, commonly used to measure the effectiveness of antidepressant agents [28]. For assessing the antidepressant activity of the FST is widely used for pharmacological model. This method was adapted on the observation of animals exposed to a situation of forced swimming, in which they become passive and immobile after a period of vigorous activity (struggling), producing only the movements required to keep their heads above the water. The FST was performed according to the method of Porsolt with some modifications. Mice were divided randomly into control, extract and Imipramine hydrochloride. Each group was contained 5 mice. Test solutions were administered once daily between 1 and 3 p.m. over a period of 14 d. Mice were placed in an acrylic cylinder (45 cm height = 20 cm diameter) filled with water at 25 ± 1 °C to a depth of 17 cm for 15 min (pre-test session) after 14 d treatment. Twenty-four hours after the pre-test session, the animals were once again exposed to the same conditions for 5 min (test session). Between the pretest session and main session drug solutions were administered orally three times as follows: just after the pre-test session, 5 h before the main test, and 1 h before the main test. A mouse was judged immobile if it remained floating in the water, except for small movements to keep its head above the water. The FST was performed between 1 and 3 p.m. for 5 min by observers

Measurement of locomotor activity test (MLAT)

The locomotor activity test needs to be performed according to the method of Carlini with minor modifications. This test is designed to measure the mobility of mice. A group of 25 mice was divided at random into five groups and orally administered with control, extract or Imipramine hydrochloride 30 min before the experiment. Mice were placed in an open field apparatus composed of an arena 40 cm in diameter divided into 16 approximately equal areas. For open field observations,

each mouse was individually placed in the center of the arena 15 h after the last treatment. Hand-operated counters were employed to score the following behavioral parameters: locomotion (number of line crossings), rearing frequencies (number of times seen standing on hind legs), and number of defecations within 5 min. Openfield observations was made between 8 and 10 a.m

Tail suspension test (TST)

For screening antidepressant effect and other class of

psychotropics a simple, rapid and reliable method is

TST. The test is designed to assay mood level by measuring the immobility time which indicate change in

mood. This method was employed on the observation

that a mouse suspended by the tail shows alternate agitation and immobility which is indicative of a state of

depression.

TST induced immobility is reduced by a

large no of clinically active and atypical antidepressant

effect. The TST was performed according to the

method with slight modifications. 25 mice were

treated with control, extract or Imipramine hydrochloride and were placed in the middle of the stand.

Two stands, each with a clamp located 22 cm from

the floor, were placed at intervals of 23 cm. A mouse

was hung 5 cm from the end of its tail on a stand,

and observed for 6 min. The TST was performed between 1 and 3 p.m. Immobility time was evaluated bDescriptions

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