ALMAQBALI, REEM KHALFANSHAIKH, JAMALUDDINWELI, AFAF MOHAMMEDSAID, SADRI ABDULLAH2024-09-242024-09-242023-02ALMAQBALI REEM KHALFAN, SHAIKH JAMALUDDIN, WELI AFAF MOHAMMED, SAID SADRI ABDULLAH . ANTIDEPRESSANT-LIKE ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF WITHANIA QARAITICA IN MICE . International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences . 2023 Feb; 15(2): 25-300975-14912656-0097https://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/231170Objective: The goal of the present study was to assess the antidepressant-like action of Withania qaraitica in two behavioral animal models, the forced-swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) in mice.Methods: Withania qaraitica methanolic extract was prepared by the maceration. The antidepressant activity was measured by the forced-swimming test (FST) using C57BL/6 mice and the tail suspension test (TST) using BALB/c mice. Mice were divided into three groups: control (DMSO), standard (citalopram and desipramine), and Withania qaraitica methanolic extract (n = 6 per group). Drugs were injected (1 ml/100 g) intraperitoneally (i. p.). Data were evaluated using analysis of variance, followed by LSD post-hoc tests, where *p<0.001 was considered significantly different from the vehicle control. The data are expressed as mean±SEM.Results: In both the FST and the TST, antidepressant-positive controls citalopram and desipramine significantly reduced the time of immobility compared to vehicle control (p<0.001). The methanolic extract of Withania qaraitica at the dose of 40 mg/kg significantly reduced the immobility times with respect to vehicle control as well as lower doses of the same extract (10 and 20 mg/kg) in FST (p<0.001). In a similar fashion, the methanolic extract of Withania qaraitica at the dose of 40 mg/kg significantly decreased the duration of immobility in TST (p<0.005).Conclusion: The current results show the antidepressant-like activity of Withania qaraitica in mice. This observation warrants additional studies to identify the underlining mechanism by which Withania qaraitica produces antidepressant-like effects.Withania qaraiticaCitalopramDesipramineAntidepressant-like effectForced-swimming testTail suspension testJournal ArticleIndiaSchool of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Nursing, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of OmanSchool of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Nursing, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of OmanSchool of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Nursing, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of OmanSchool of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Nursing, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman