Evaluation of the Antidepressant Potential of Triplochiton scleroxylon Leaf Extract Using Tail Suspension and Forced Swim Tests

Albashir Tahir; Khadija Abdullahi Kobi; Abbas Nasidi; Nura Bello

doi:10.62425/rtpharma.1897763

Evaluation of the Antidepressant Potential of Triplochiton scleroxylon Leaf Extract Using Tail Suspension and Forced Swim Tests

Abstract

Objective: Depression is a major neuropsychiatric disorder with a substantial global burden. Existing pharmacotherapies are limited by delayed onset of action, incomplete response, and adverse effects, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic agents, particularly from medicinal plants. Triplochiton scleroxylon was selected based on its ethnomedicinal use and reported richness in bioactive phytochemicals with potential neuropharmacological activity. This study evaluated the antidepressant-like activity, phytochemical composition, and acute toxicity profile of the ethanol leaf extract of T. scleroxylon in murine models. Methods: Fresh leaves of T. scleroxylon were extracted by ethanol maceration, yielding 14.4% crude extract. Preliminary phytochemical screening was conducted using standard qualitative methods. Acute toxicity was assessed using Lorke’s method. Antidepressant-like activity was evaluated in mice (n=4 per group) using the Tail Suspension Test (TST) and Forced Swim Test (FST). Animals received oral doses of 22.5, 45, and 90 mg/kg extract, with imipramine (10 mg/kg) as the reference drug. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and steroids. No mortality was observed at 10 and 100 mg/kg in the acute toxicity study, while mortality occurred at 1000 mg/kg. In both TST and FST models, the extract significantly reduced immobility time at 45 and 90 mg/kg in a dose-dependent manner (p<.05). Conclusion: The ethanol leaf extract of T. scleroxylon exhibits significant dose-dependent antidepressant-like activity with a favorable safety margin, supporting its potential as a source of bioactive compounds for antidepressant drug development. Keywords: Triplochiton scleroxylon, depression, antidepressant, phytochemicals, tail suspension test, forced swim test.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

Ethical clearance was obtained with the approval code (SAZU/FBMS/REC/VOL. 08/010117) on 16th December, 2025, from the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences Research and Ethics Committee (FBMSREC), Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi, before the study commenced. All experimental procedures were conducted in accordance with the ARRIVE guidelines.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Basic Pharmacology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Albashir Tahir ^*
0000-0001-9272-5540
Nigeria

Khadija Abdullahi Kobi
0009-0007-1409-7674
Nigeria

Abbas Nasidi
0000-0002-7167-7671
Nigeria

Nura Bello
0000-0002-0928-8261
Nigeria

Early Pub Date

April 14, 2026

Publication Date

April 24, 2026

Submission Date

February 26, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 13, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 4 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.62425/rtpharma.1897763

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA35PD34WP

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Tahir, A., Abdullahi Kobi, K., Nasidi, A., & Bello, N. (2026). Evaluation of the Antidepressant Potential of Triplochiton scleroxylon Leaf Extract Using Tail Suspension and Forced Swim Tests. Recent Trends in Pharmacology, 4(1), 18-23. https://doi.org/10.62425/rtpharma.1897763

AMA

1.Tahir A, Abdullahi Kobi K, Nasidi A, Bello N. Evaluation of the Antidepressant Potential of Triplochiton scleroxylon Leaf Extract Using Tail Suspension and Forced Swim Tests. Recent Trends in Pharmacology. 2026;4(1):18-23. doi:10.62425/rtpharma.1897763

Chicago

Tahir, Albashir, Khadija Abdullahi Kobi, Abbas Nasidi, and Nura Bello. 2026. “Evaluation of the Antidepressant Potential of Triplochiton Scleroxylon Leaf Extract Using Tail Suspension and Forced Swim Tests”. Recent Trends in Pharmacology 4 (1): 18-23. https://doi.org/10.62425/rtpharma.1897763.

EndNote

Tahir A, Abdullahi Kobi K, Nasidi A, Bello N (April 1, 2026) Evaluation of the Antidepressant Potential of Triplochiton scleroxylon Leaf Extract Using Tail Suspension and Forced Swim Tests. Recent Trends in Pharmacology 4 1 18–23.

IEEE

[1]A. Tahir, K. Abdullahi Kobi, A. Nasidi, and N. Bello, “Evaluation of the Antidepressant Potential of Triplochiton scleroxylon Leaf Extract Using Tail Suspension and Forced Swim Tests”, Recent Trends in Pharmacology, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 18–23, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.62425/rtpharma.1897763.

ISNAD

Tahir, Albashir - Abdullahi Kobi, Khadija - Nasidi, Abbas - Bello, Nura. “Evaluation of the Antidepressant Potential of Triplochiton Scleroxylon Leaf Extract Using Tail Suspension and Forced Swim Tests”. Recent Trends in Pharmacology 4/1 (April 1, 2026): 18-23. https://doi.org/10.62425/rtpharma.1897763.

JAMA

1.Tahir A, Abdullahi Kobi K, Nasidi A, Bello N. Evaluation of the Antidepressant Potential of Triplochiton scleroxylon Leaf Extract Using Tail Suspension and Forced Swim Tests. Recent Trends in Pharmacology. 2026;4:18–23.

MLA

Tahir, Albashir, et al. “Evaluation of the Antidepressant Potential of Triplochiton Scleroxylon Leaf Extract Using Tail Suspension and Forced Swim Tests”. Recent Trends in Pharmacology, vol. 4, no. 1, Apr. 2026, pp. 18-23, doi:10.62425/rtpharma.1897763.

Vancouver

1.Albashir Tahir, Khadija Abdullahi Kobi, Abbas Nasidi, Nura Bello. Evaluation of the Antidepressant Potential of Triplochiton scleroxylon Leaf Extract Using Tail Suspension and Forced Swim Tests. Recent Trends in Pharmacology. 2026 Apr. 1;4(1):18-23. doi:10.62425/rtpharma.1897763