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Background  In Cameroonian traditional medicine various extracts of  Gladiolus dalenii  Van Geel (Iridaceae) have been used as a cure for various ailments that include headaches, digestive problems, muscle and joint aches, and some central nervous system disorders such as epilepsy, schizophrenia and mood disorders. Owning to this background, the aim of the study was to investigate whether an aqueous macerate of the bulb of  Gladiolus dalenii  has any antidepressant activity focusing specifically on depression-like behaviours associated with epilepsy.    Method  We used the combined administration of atropine and pilocarpine to rats as our animal model of epilepsy. The forced swim test and spontaneous locomotor activity in the open field test were the two tools used to assess the presence of depression-like behaviour in epileptic and control animals. The following depression-related parameters were determined: plasma ACTH, plasma corticosterone, adrenal gland weight and hippocampal levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The effects of  Gladiolus dalenii  were compared to that of fluoxetine.    Results  Our results showed that we had a valid animal model of epilepsy-induced depression as all 3 measures of construct, predictive and face validity were satisfied. The data indicated that  Gladiolus dalenii  significantly reduced the immobility times in the forced swim test and the locomotor activity as assessed in the open field. A similar pattern was observed when the HPA axis parameters were analysed.  Gladiolus dalenii  significantly reduced the levels of ACTH, corticosterone, but not the adrenal gland weight.  Gladiolus dalenii  significantly increased the level of BDNF in the hippocampus. In all parameters measured the effects of  Gladiolus dalenii  were significantly greater than those of fluoxetine.    Conclusion  The results show that  Gladiolus dalenii  has antidepressant-like properties similar to those of fluoxetine in epilepsy-associated depressive states. The antidepressant activity of  Gladiolus dalenii  is likely to be mediated by restoring the activity of the HPA axis and increasing the levels of BDNF in the hippocampus.

bmc complementary and alternative medicine

Antidepressant-like effects of the aqueous macerate of the bulb of Gladiolus dalenii Van Geel (Iridaceae) in a rat model of epilepsy-associated depression