Antidepressant effect of aqueous and ethanolic leave extracts of Lippia citriodora on postpartum depression in mice

Postpartum depression has harmful effects on mother and infant. Regarding the sedative effects of infusion Lippia citriodora (L.C) or lemon verbena in traditional medicine, this study was performed with aim to evaluate the effects of aqueous and alcoholic leave extracts of L.C on postpartum depression.

This animal study was performed in 2018 on female mice in Mashhad Pharmacy School.   At first, postpartum depression was induced by progesterone injection (IP) (progesterone at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day for five days, three days without progesterone, then normal saline was injected at eight day). After depression induction (compare with control group, and doing the FST (forced swimming test) and TST (tail suspension test)), the aqueous and ethanolic leave extracts of Lippia citriodora (50,100 and 200 mg/Kg) were injected (IP) to depressed mice in different groups and then TST and FST were performed after one hour. Statistical analysis was performed by Unpaired T test and One-way ANOVA using GraphPad Prism software. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. 

The aqueous (200 mg/kg) and ethanolic (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) extracts significantly reduced the immobility time in FST and TST tests (p<0.0001).

The aqueous and ethanolic leave extracts of L.C possess anti-depressant effects in postpartum depression. It seems that the ethanolic extract of LC is more potent than the aqueous extract due to the high level of verbascoside.