A complementary and alternative natural antidepressant therapy with emphasis on their mechanisms of action

Ali Esmail Al-Snafi *

Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Thi qar, Iraq.
 
Review
International Journal of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Archive, 2021, 02(01), 007-0021.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijbpsa.2021.2.1.0056
Publication history: 
Received on 01 June 2021; revised on 04 July 2021; accepted on 08 July 2021
 
Abstract: 
Medicinal plants can exert antidepressant activity by many mechanisms included neutralization of various stress mediators (regulate the activity of the hypothalamic- pituitary- adrenal axis and reduce CRF, and ACTH and corticosterone) [5], interaction with serotonergic systems (5-HT3, 5HT2A, 5-HT1A), noradrenergic (α1 and α2 receptors) and dopaminergic (D1 and D2) receptors [6],restoring monoamine transmitters and their receptors to normal limits in certain regions of the cortex, in addition to reducing of oxidative stress and amelioration of inflammatory mediators. The current review discussed the antidepressant activity of medicinal plants, with emphasis on their mechanisms of action.
 
Keywords: 
Depression; Antidepressants; Medicinal plants; Herbal medicines
 
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