Abstract

ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITY OF CILOSTAZOL: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY.

Dr. Rohit Agrawal*, Dr. Manjula Bhargava, Dr. D.D.Santani, Vaishali Agrawal, Dr. Ishteyaq Ahmad, and Dr. Ajitesh Mishra

Abstract

Objective: Besides antiplatelet activity, cilostazol has been reported to posses antidepressant activity. Therefore it was thought worthwhile to compare antidepressant activity of cilostazol with that of fluoxetine, a clinically used antidepressant. Methods: In this study, the antidepressant activity of cilostazol was compared with that of fluoxetine in mice by forced swim test, tail suspension test and forced swim test with activity wheel. Results: Cilostazol (20 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally showed antidepressant activity as it significantly decreased the immobility time when subjected to forced swim and tail suspension test and increased the number of rotations of wheel when subjected to forced swim test with activity wheel. However the activity of cilostazol was found to be less than that of fluoxetine (20mg/kg). Conclusion: The present study suggests that cilostazol posseses potential antidepressant activity which could be of clinical importance for the patients suffering from depressive disorders.

Keywords: Cilostazol, forced swim test, tail suspension test, water wheel test.