Exploring Phyto-Resources of Tulsi for the Management of Depression: A Discovery Through Computational and Pharmacological Studies

As per the WHO, 4.3% of the population globally suffers from depression, which is responsible for suicides among the young population. The medicinal properties of various herbs have been reported since ancient times for treating an extensive array of ailments. This study initially involves an in silico approach to identify the multi target binding potential of phytoconstituents of tulsi, followed by in vivo and in vitro pharmacological studies of Amulya Tulsi Drops 5X to explore their effectiveness in the management of depressive-like symptoms. The in silico study revealed that α-fenchyl acetate in tulsi has the highest binding affinity for the hMAO-A enzyme and dopamine receptor. At the same time, α-cadinol is the most actively bound phytoconstituent at the serotonin receptor. In molecular dynamic studies, Z, Z-4,16-octadecadien-1-ol acetate exhibited a superior stable binding affinity, surpassing even the standard molecule moclobemide. The GC-MS fingerprinting of the Tulsi Drops was performed to confirm the presence of various volatile phytoconstituents in the formulation. At doses of 0.1 mg/kg and 0.3 mg/kg in mice, a reduction in behavioral despair and an increase in behaviors like swimming and struggling suggested a positive indication of Tulsi drops for antidepressant activity. Further, HPLC-ECD analysis supported the mechanism through an observation of higher levels of dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters in the brain tissues of mice.