“PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ZINGIBER ZERUMBET”

Abstract

Zingiber zerumbet belongs to the family Zingiberaceae, are spread throughout the world growing under a wide range of climatic conditions. It has been widely used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of different central nervous system disorders. Nevertheless, the available scientific information about this species is scarce and there are no reports related to its possible effect on the CNS. In this work, the effects of ethanolic root extract of Zingiber zerumbet were evaluated in mice using behavioral tests sensitive to clinically effective antidepressant compounds. The extract (100 and 200mg/kg), administered intraperitoneally, was able to decrease the immobility time of mice dose dependently when subjected to both tail suspension and forced swim tests and the effects are comparable to that of standard drugs fluoxetine (20mg/kg). Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of phenolic compounds, glycoside, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and amino acids in ethanolic extract of Zingiber zerumbet. It is concluded that Z. zerumbet possess antidepressant activity may be due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids. However further study is needed to understand mechanism of action and to identify active component responsible for antidepressant activity.