Assessment of the Antidepressant Effects of Aqueous Extract from Morus alba Leaves in Albino Mice

Background and Aim: The research explored whether the aqueous Morus alba (Mulberry) leaves extract showed antidepressant effects in albino mice. Most studies on Morus alba medicine originated from traditional medicine yet research documentation about depressive disorders treatment remains scarce. Study design and methods: Experimental research used different doses of aqueous Morus alba leaf extract which were administered to albino mice. The research included control and standard groups given fluoxetine as well as three experimental groups that received different concentrations of Morus alba extract (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, or 200 mg/kg) respectively. Depressant-like activity evaluation used the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) with interactive measurement methods. Measuring serotonin and norepinephrine levels in serum tissue was necessary to identify potential mechanisms during the analysis. Results: Mice receiving extract of Morus alba showed a substantial decrease in immobility periods during FST and TST which indicates a depressive-like effect. Two hundred mg/kg and one hundred mg/kg doses produced optimal results. The treatment groups showed an increase of serotonin and norepinephrine levels at significant levels. Conclusion: The antidepressant properties of aqueous Morus alba leaf extract show similar potency as fluoxetine on albino mice depression symptoms making it a potential candidate for treating depression.