Investigation Of Some Enzyme Modulators For Their Antidepressant Potential

Abstract

Depression is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by the symptoms such as loss of energy, low self-esteem, poor concentration, anhedonia, low energy, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, suicidality, etc. Depression related behavior in experimental animals can be assessed using behavioral paradigms including tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST). Immobility developed by the animals in these paradigms served as an indicator of behavioral despair which presents the condition analogous to depression in humans. Various neurochemicals such as serotonin, glutamate, NO, etc. are involved in the regulation of depression related behavior. The enhancement of serotonergic signaling confer the antidepressant like effect. Various categories of the drugs are used to treat depression but selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) are used as the first line treatment for depression. However, SSRIs treatment has been shown to impose the risk of suicidality, sexual dysfunction, akathisia, GIT disturbance, insomnia etc. Further, SSRIs treatment takes weeks to impose their clinical therapeutic effect in the prescribed patients but only 50% of prescribed patients respond to these drugs. These findings suggested the need of safer and more efficient antidepressant agents. Therefore, both the prescriber and patients look for the newer and safer therapeutic agents for the effective management of depression.