Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract from Salvia verticillata on Pharmacological Models of Seizure, Anxiety and Depression in Mice

Salvia verticillata is one of the salvia species which possesses remarkable antioxidant activity. In the present study, we investigated the possible effects of hydro-alcoholic extract from Salvia verticillata plant (SVE) in various models of anxiety, depression and seizure in mice. Mice were randomly divided into control (saline), SVE-treated and standard treatment groups. The SVE-treated groups received oral administration of various doses of SVE. As a standard treatment, diazepam and imipramine were used orally for anxiety/seizure and depression tests, respectively. The results of the study revealed that the plant extract produced significant anticonvulsant activity in maximal electroshock and pentylenetetrazol induced seizure models. Moreover, in forced swim test and tail suspension test of depression, SVE produced significant antidepressant effect in mice compared to control group. However, SVE did not show any effects on anxiety-like behavior of mice in elevated plus maze and light-dark tests. These results suggest potential therapeutic effects of the plant extract in seizure and depression.