Screening of antioxidant and antidepressant activity of Vanda tessellata leaves extract

Abstract

Aim: Vanda tessellata is an endangered orchid of high medicinal value plant containing flavonoid and polyphenol components. The present study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antidepressant activity of leaves extract of V. tessellata. Materials and Methods: The chloroform and ethanol extracts were prepared from V. tessellata leaves. The total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were determined for antioxidant activity of extracts. Antidepressant activity was identified using a modified forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Results and Discussion: The total phenolic content of chloroform and ethanol extracts of V. tessellate were 98.25 ± 0.11 and 202.00 ± 0.21 gallic acid equivalent mg/gm, respectively. The concentrations of flavonoids in chloroform and ethanol extracts of V. tessellate were 23.57 ± 0.47 and 114.48 ± 0.12 quercetin equivalent mg/gm, respectively. The ethanol extract demonstrated significant antidepressant activity by a reduction in immobility times of rats in TST and FST. Conclusion: The findings concluded that the antidepressant activity of V. tessellate extracts may be due to the presence of polyphenol and flavonoids.