Introduction
Introduction to herbal medicine
Medicinal plants are an important source of new chemical entities with potential therapeutic values. More than 75% of the total population in developing countries relies on traditional medicines based on plant products.1 In the search for new therapeutic products for the treatment of neurological disorders, medicinal plants research worldwide has progressed constantly, demonstrating the pharmacological effectiveness of different plant species in a variety of animal model.2 As we study the ways in which herbs work, we come to understand the various levels of relationship between herbs and the human body. On the most basic physical level, we can identify a plant’s chemical compounds and observe the various physiological reactions elicited in the human body. The great gift of herbal medicine is that it humbly offers to us its healing power and its mystical wisdom, which we can only partially understand.3
Adaptogen
Adaptogens are herbs that are non-toxic, produce a nonspecific defensive response to stress, and have a normalizing influence on the body. Adaptogens help the body adapt to stress, support its normal function, and restore balance. They increase the body’s resistance to physical, biological, emotional and environmental stressors.4
Stress
Stress is basically a reaction of mind and body against change in the homeostasis. The productive stress is called Eustress while harmful stress is called Distress. If the stress is extreme, the homeostatic mechanisms of the organism become deficit and the survival of the organism is threatened. “Stress had been coined as the “mother of all diseases”. Stress is involved in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases that includes psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, immuno-suppression, endocrine disorders including diabetes mellitus, male impotence, cognitive dysfunction, peptic ulcer, hepato and nephro dysfunction, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis.5
Common stressor
Spiritual: A lack of purpose in life and a diseased soul
Psychological: Anger, fear, sadness, concern, anxiety, sorrow, loss, desire, significant life changes, mental disease, psychological trauma, and a heavy burden of responsibility.
Nutritional: Food allergies, nutritional inadequacies, alcoholism and drug use, diets lacking in minerals, and free radicals.
Biological: Exposure to viruses, parasites, germs, and mould
Physical: High blood pressure, surgery, trauma, severe sickness, infection, hard activity, lack of oxygen, drunkenness and drug usage, loss of sleep, chronic overstimulation, pregnancy, and having a new baby are all factors that can affect blood pressure.
Chemical: exposure to heavy metals, toxins, household and industrial chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, fumes, smoking, cigarettes, and synthetic medications.
Environmental: exposure to extremes in temperature, noise, barometric pressure fluctuations, altitude changes, allergens, xenoestrogens, UV light, microwaves, high-voltage electric lines, radio waves, and radiation, as well as other factors.6
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
General adaptation syndrome is a theorized physiological response to stress developed by Hans Selye. This theory was developed after experimenting and observing the physiologic responses of animals to stress. 5
General adaptation syndrome stages
Alarm is the first stage. The body's stress response is a state of alarm when a threat or stressor is perceived or experienced. In order to trigger the fight-or-flight response, adrenaline will be created during this period. The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is also activated, resulting in cortisol production.
Resistance is the second stage. If the stressor persists, it will be vital to try to cope with it in some way. Although the body begins to adapt to environmental stress or demands, it cannot do so indefinitely, and its resources are gradually depleted.
Exhaustion is the third and final stage in the GAS model. All of the body's resources are finally drained at this stage, and the body is unable to function normally. The symptoms of the autonomic nervous system that first appeared may return (sweating, raised heart rate etc.). Long term harm may happen if stage three is prolonged because the body and immune system are fatigue and function is compromised, culminating in decompensation. As a result, apparent ailments such as ulcers, depression, and diabetes, as well as digestive and cardiovascular problems, might occur, as well as other mental illnesses.
Depression
Depression is one of the most prevalent and life-time threatening forms of mental illness characterized by the absence of positive impact by extreme exaggeration, lack of interest and mood disturbance, which adversely affect cognition and psychomotor function.7, 8 Sorrow and sadness are normal human emotions, everybody has these feelings but not last longer, major depression is more where it’s a period of overwhelming sorrow.9
The burden of depression and other mental health conditions is on the rise globally. Although a number of synthetic drugs are being used as the standard treatment for clinically depressed patients, they have adverse effects that can compromise the therapeutic treatment. Several drug-drug interactions can also occur. These conditions create an opportunity for alternative treatment of depression by using herbal medicine.10
Review of Literature
Vernacular name
Distribution
Salacia chinensis (Celastraceae) is Seven species of Salacia such as S.beddomei, S.chinensis, S.fruticosa, S.gambleana, S.macrosperma, S.malabarica and S.oblongawere is native India, Sri Lanka, China, and Southeast Asia to New Guinea.13
Acute toxicity studies
An acute oral toxicity study for the extract was conducted in accordance with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guidelines No. 423. It has been reported that Salacia chinensis seems to be safe at a dose level of 2000-4000 mg/kg b.w. 14
Materials and Methods
Experimental animal: Male albino mice of swiss strain, weighing about 25-30grm.
Methods
Preliminary Phytochemical Analysis15
Salacia chinensis leaves extract was subjected to chemical tests for the identification of their active constituents.
Method of collection of data
The leaves of Salacia chinensis was collected from the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Hesaraghatta. The sample was identified and authenticated by Botanist. A herbarium specimen was preserved in the college museum for future reference. Fresh leaves were cleaned, and shade dried at room temperature.
Extraction procedure
The sample of Salacia chinensis leaves were blended to powder (100g) after that extracted with methanol by using Soxhlet’s extaction method Thereafter, the extract was evaporated to dryness over water bath. Finally the concentrated crude extract was used for the study.16
Evaluation of adaptogenic activity
Swimming endurance test in mice 17
Animal: Albino mice weighing 20-30gms
Adaptogenic activity was carried out by placing the mice individually in a transparent glass cylinder (12 cm in diameter, height 25 cm), which was filled with water to a height of 15 cm. Two swim sessions were conducted. An initial 15-min pre-test followed 24 hour later by a 6-minute test. In the pre-test session, the mice which have not yet treated was made to swim in a glass cylinder for 15 min. In the second session, each mouse received a respective dose of sample 1 hour prior to test, and was placed in the cylinders.
The following behaviors were recorded during the last 4 min:
Immobility: Floating in water without swimming. The mouse was considered immobile when it floats motionlessly or made only those movements necessary to keep its head above the water surface
Swimming: Active movements of extremities and circling in the container
Climbing: Active movements of forelimbs on the container wall
After 15min in the water, the mice were removed and allowed to dry in a heated enclosure (32 ºC) before returned to their home cages.
Extracts was given to mice once daily for a period of 14 days and on 15th day mean swimming time for each group was calculated, blood was collected through retro orbital blood withdrawal method under light inhalant anesthesia to estimate biochemical parameters like blood glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol.
Animals were sacrificed humanely by overdose of anesthesia and the weights of organs such as liver, adrenals and spleen were recorded after washing with alcohol.
Research Design
Group: Control treated vehicle
Group: Withania somnifera Standard drug (100mg/kg BW p.o)
Group: Leaves extract of Salacia chinensis (200mg/kg) BW p.o)
Group: Leaves extract of Salacia chinensis (400mg/kg BW p.o)
Table 2
Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Salacia chinensis on swimming endurance test
Table 3
Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Salacia chinensis on biological parameters in swimming endurance test
Figure 5
Effect of hydroalcoholic leaves extract of Salacia chinensis on biological parameters in swimming endurance test
Table 4
Effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Salacia chinensis on organ weights in Swimming Endurance test
Evaluation of Antidepressant Activity
Tail Suspension test (TST)
Albino mice weighing about 20-30 g was used.
Animals were moved from their housing colony to laboratory in their own cages and allowed to adapt to the laboratory conditions for 1-2 hours. The principle of this test is that suspending mice upside down leads to characteristic behavior immobility which resembles to human depression.
After the administration of respective sample, mice were suspended on the edge of the table 50 cm above the floor by adhesive tape placed approximately 1 cm from the tip of the tail. Immobility duration was recorded for the last 4 minutes during 6-minute period. Mice was considered immobile when they hanged passively and completely motionless
After successive 14 days of treatment with control, standard and extract drugs, the immobility was calculated and recorded.18
Research design
Group: Control treated with vehicle
Group: Standard drug (Imipramine – 10mg/kg BW p.o)
Group: Leaves extract of Salacia chinensis (400mg/kg BW p.o)
Group: Leaves extract of Salacia chinensis (200mg/kg BW p.o.)
Table 5
Effect of hydro alcoholic extract of Salacia chinensis on tail suspension test (tst)
Elevated plus maze test (EPM)
This equipment made of wood and consisted of two opposite open arms, 50×10 cm (surrounded by 1 cm high Plexiglas), and two enclosed arms, 50× 10× 40 cm elevated to a height of 50 cm above the floor. The junction area of the four arms (central platform) measured 10×10 cm. The floor of the maze painted with impermeable dark epoxy resin, in order to avoid urine impregnation. 18
Procedure
Animal: Albino mice weighing 20-30gm
Group 1 mice received saline served as control, group 2 received standard drug Imipramine, group 3 & 4 were treated with HAESC 200 and 400mg/kg p.o respectively 30 minutes before the experiment. After 21days of dosing period the animal’s depression level was observed. Animals were freely exposed to Elevated plus maze apparatus.
Following parameters was noted for next 5 min:
Research design
Group: Control treated with vehicle
Group: Standard drug (Imipramine – 10mg/kg BW p.o)
Group: Leaves extract of Salacia chinensis (400mg/kg BW p.o)
Group: Leaves extract of Salacia chinensis (200mg/kg BW p.o.)
Table 6
Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Salacia chinensis on elevated plus maze test
Discussion and Results
Phytochemical analysis
Successive extractions of Salacia chinensis was performed. The extract powder was greenish in colour and hygroscopic in nature.
The Salacia chinensis extract was subjected to different preliminary chemical tests to determine the chemical constituents present in the extract.
The results have indicated the presence of flavonoid, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, glycosides, carbohydrates.
Evaluation of Adaptogenic Activity
Swimming endurance test
In Swim endurance test, oral administration of HAESC at the dose of 200 mg/kg and 400mg/kg significantly increased in swimming time.
In Swim endurance test, oral administration of HAESC at the dose of 200 mg/kg and 400mg/kg significantly reduced weight of organ (i.e., Liver, spleen, Adrenal gland).
The biochemical estimation results obtained showed decrease in blood glucose, triglyceride, and slight increase in cholesterol level when compared to control which support the adaptogenic activity of the title plant as shown in table no: Table 2, Table 3, Table 4 and Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7.
Evaluation of Antidepressant Activity
Tail suspension test
The duration of immobility was reduced after treated with hydroalcoholic extract of Salacia chinensis and results are significant on both high dose 400 mg/kg, p.o. ( P<0.001) and low dose 200 mg/kg, p.o. (P<0.01) with that of standard Imipramine (10 mg/kg, p.o.) indicating that the extract possess significant antidepressant activity. Results depicted in Table 5 and Figure 8, Figure 9.
Elevated plus maze method
The hydroalcoholic extract of Salacia chinensis at high dose (400 mg/kg, p.o) (P˂0.05) significantly increased the number of entries in to open arm and total time spent in open arm as compared to control.
It shows increase in the mobility of the mice in open arm which suggest the antidepressant activity shown in Table 6 and Figure 10, Figure 11.
Conclusion and Summry
The adaptogenic and antidepressant effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Salacia chinensis leaf was studied.
Based on the results obtained from this study it can be concluded that the hydroalcoholic extract of Salacia chinensis leaves possess Adaptogenic and Antidepressant activity.
This beneficial effect of Salacia chinensis leaf might be due to presence of flavonoids, alkaloids and its derivatives. However, further investigation should be carried out to elucidate the exact mechanism of action.
