Evaluation of Adaptogenic and Antidepressant Activity of Rhododendron arboreum Flower

Abstract

Various medications are available to treat stress and depression, but there is a growing interest in plant-based drugs due to their effectiveness and minimal side effects. As a result, researchers conducted a study to evaluate the adaptogenic and antidepressant effects of extracts from Rhododendron arboreum flowers using different animal models. The adaptogenic activity of the extracts was tested in mice and rats using anoxia stress and swimming endurance stress-induced models. In the anoxia stress model, animals were placed in airtight containers, and any increase in their tolerance to anoxia was considered a positive effect. In the swimming endurance model, the researchers measured various biochemical parameters such as blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood urea nitrogen, blood cell count, and organ weights in both stressed animals and animals treated with the extract. The decrease in biochemical parameters and maintenance of blood cell counts indicated adaptogenic activity. Additionally, the extract protected against increased liver and adrenal gland weight, and decreased spleen weight under stress conditions, further confirming its adaptogenic activity. The antidepressant effect was evaluated using the tail suspension test and elevated plus maze model, where immobility was used as a behavioral parameter. Significant adaptogenic and antidepressant activity was observed after treating the animals with the ethanolic extract of R. arboreum flowers at doses of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg. Interestingly, the higher dose of the extract had a more pronounced effect compared to the lower dose. Overall, this study provides compelling evidence supporting the significant adaptogenic and antidepressant activity of the ethanolic extract derived from R. arboreum flowers. The results suggest that the extract has the potential to help the body adapt to stress and exhibit antidepressant effects. Furthermore, the study highlights the extract's impact on various biochemical, hematological, and organ weight parameters in rats, indicating its  adaptogenic properties. The presence of flavonoids such as rutin and quercetin in the extract may contribute to its adaptogenic activity, while terpenes could be responsible for its antidepressant effects.