Antidepressant effect of an ethanolic extract of the leaves of Cissampelossympodialis in rats and mice

An ethanolic extract of the leaves of Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. (Menis permaceae) was found to potentiate the toxicity of pentylenetetrazol in mic e. Similar to imipramine, the extract also reduced the immobility period in the forced swimming test in mice and reversed the degree of ptosis and cat alepsy induced by reserpine in rats. These results suggest that the extract possesses antidepressant activity and the reported phosphodiesterase inhib itory activity of the plant may account for the observed antidepressant eff ect. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.