Tephrosia maxima (L.) Pers (Leguminosae (Fabaceae)), is an herbaceous climber that has been generally utilized in Indian traditional medicine for the treatment of different central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Nevertheless, the available scientific information about this species is rare and there are no reports identified with its conceivable impact on the CNS. In this work, the effects of ethanolic extract of Tephrosia maxima (L.) Pers (TMP) were assessed in rats utilizing behavioral tests sensitive to clinically effective antidepressant and anxiolytic effects compounds. The extract (200 and 400 mg/kg), administered intraperitoneally, was able to decrease the immobility time of rats dose‐dependently when subjected to both tail suspension and forced swim tests for antidepressant activity. Anxiolytic effect to determine by elevated pluse maze test and actophotometer test models and the effects are comparable to that of standard drugs i.e., Diazepam (20 mg/kg). Neither the extracts of TMP and diazepam at the doses tested, produced significant effects on locomotor activity when subjected to open field behavioral test. These results demonstrated that TMP had specifically antidepressant effects in-vivo. In conclusion, the present study recommended that TMP extracts possessed potential antidepressant and anxiolytic effects which could be of therapeutic interest for using in the treatment of patients with depressive disorders.
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