# Evaluation of the antidepressant potential of Duloxetine, Coffea canephora, and Nigella sativa in a rat depression model

## TL;DR

This study compares the antidepressant effects of duloxetine, green coffee, and black seeds in a rat model of depression.

## Contribution

The study evaluates the antidepressant potential of natural compounds (green coffee and black seeds) alongside a conventional drug (duloxetine) in a rat model.

## Key findings

- Cymbalta significantly reduced immobility time and restored neurotransmitter balance in depressed rats.
- Black seeds showed better neurochemical and antioxidant benefits than green coffee in treating depression.
- Natural compounds like green coffee and black seeds may serve as effective adjunctive therapies for depression.

## Abstract

Depression is a complex disorder involving neurotransmitter imbalance, oxidative stress, and inflammation of the brain tissue. Traditional antidepressants like duloxetine (Cymbalta®) can produce side effects. Natural extracts like Coffea canephora (green coffee) and Nigella sativa (black seeds) have emerged as possible alternative therapies. The present study aims to evaluate the antidepressant efficacy of Cymbalta, green coffee, and black seeds in a reserpine-induced rat depression model. Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into five groups: (1) Control group, (2) Depression-induced group (reserpine 0.2 mg/kg for 14 days, followed by 0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneally), (3) Cymbalta-treated group (30 mg/kg orally for four weeks), (4) Green coffee-treated group (400 mg/kg orally for four weeks), and (5) Black seed-treated group (350 mg/kg orally for four weeks). Behavioral tests (FST, Y-maze), neurotransmitter (DA, 5-HT, NE), oxidative stress markers (MDA, NO, GSH), and neuroinflammatory cytokine levels (Iba-1) were analyzed. Cymbalta significantly decreased immobility time in FST and Y-maze, restored neurotransmitter balance, reduced oxidative stress, and mitigated neuroinflammation that induced by reserpine. Also, the green coffee and black seeds demonstrated antidepressant effects against the alterations induced by reserpine, the treatment with black seeds exhibiting superior neurochemical and antioxidant benefits compared with green coffee treatment. Cymbalta showed the greatest antidepressant action, but the green coffee and the black seeds presented good neuroprotective and antidepressant activities. These findings suggest that the natural compounds may serve as adjunctive therapies for depression.