Anti-stress Potential of Ethanol Leaf Extracts of Parquetina and Common Figs in Chronic Forced Swim Stress

Medicinal plants, such as Parquetina and Fig, have been used locally for centuries to manage various illnesses, including mental health-related conditions, effectively. This study investigated the antistress effects of 250 mg/kg body weight of ethanolic leaf extract of Parquetina (ETEPN) and Fig (ETEFC) in male Wistar rats in a seven-day forced swim stress (FSS) model. Behavioral assessments (open field test (OFT), elevated plus-maze (EPM), and forced swim test (FST)) were performed to estimate the adaptogenic/antistress effects of the extracts. Neurochemical and oxidative stress were determined in the rats’ brain homogenates. Compared with the control, FSS elicited an inhibitory effect in the OFT and EPM and a depressogenic effect in the FST. The extracts reversed all these behavioral aberrations. A decrease was detected in the GSH level, whereas the GPx and SOD activities and the MDA and nitrite levels were significantly elevated by FSS. AChE activity and dopamine, serotonin, and cortisol levels were elevated significantly (p<0.001), and levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor were decreased significantly (p<0.0001) by FSS. The extracts were able to ameliorate the induced oxidative stress and neurochemical alterations caused by FSS. This study revealed that the two plant extracts demonstrated anti-stress potential by ameliorating the behavioral and neurochemical dysfunction associated with chronic FSS and could be used as drug adjuncts to remedy common day-to-day stress.