ABSTRACT:
Aim: The present research is to evaluate the antioxidant and antipsychotic potential of Desmodium gangeticum on the ketamine-induced experimental psychosis model in rats with a focus on TNF-a Regulation. Materials and Methods: The root was collected, desiccated, and finely ground. Extraction was conducted using 98% ethanol in a Soxhlet apparatus. This study included a preliminary phytochemical analysis of the extract. Two dosage levels of the extract (200 and 400mg/kg) were administered. The DPPH assay was performed to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Antipsychotic activity was assessed in ketamine- induced psychosis by using Cook’s pole climbing apparatus, actophotometer, and open field test. Additionally, immunohistochemical analyses of TNF-a levels and histopathological examinations of brain tissue were conducted. Result and Discussion: The extract comprises various phytochemicals, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, steroids, tannins, and triterpenoids. DPPH assay of leaf extract demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, which could be due to the high content of phenolics and flavonoids. Results demonstrated a significant increase in the latency for the rats to climb the pole. This study also reported a notable reduction in locomotor activity, as assessed by the actophotometer and open field tests (including crossing, rearing, sniffing, and grooming). Moreover, Desmodium gangeticum treatment resulted in a marked reduction in ketamine-induced TNF-a expression, suggesting its potential to modulate neuroinflammatory pathways. Histopathological analysis of the brain indicated a restoration of cellular integrity in subjects treated with Desmodium gangeticum at a dosage of 400 mg/kg. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the ethanolic extract of Desmodium gangeticum exhibits significant antipsychotic activity, likely attributable to its modulatory effects on dopamine neurotransmission.