# Oroxylum indicum (L.) Bark Ameliorates Anxiety and Depression: Evidence From Experimental and Computational Studies

## TL;DR

This study shows that Oroxylum indicum bark extract has potential to reduce anxiety and depression, with two compounds identified as promising natural treatments.

## Contribution

The study identifies two natural compounds from Oroxylum indicum with strong binding affinity and stability for treating anxiety and depression.

## Key findings

- MOIB showed anxiolytic effects in elevated plus maze and head dip tests.
- Two compounds (CID 550198 and CID 10393) demonstrated strong binding affinity and stability in molecular simulations.
- MOIB exhibited sedative and antidepressant effects in multiple behavioral tests.

## Abstract

This study evaluated the antioxidant and neuropharmacological potentials of methanol extract of Oroxylum indicum bark (MOIB) to advocate the scientific basis of its traditional use in medical folklore. The preliminary phytochemical screening and GC–MS analysis identified twenty phytochemicals in MOIB. Besides, in EPM, MOIB exhibited an increase in time spent and the number of entries in open arms while an enhancement in head dipping was demonstrated by MOIB in HBT compared to control, indicating anxiolytic activities. Furthermore, a dose‐dependent reduction in locomotor activities together with immobility time was revealed by MOIB in the hole cross test, open field test, and tail suspension test, forced swimming test, respectively in comparison to that of control suggesting sedative and antidepressant activities. Again, the molecular docking analysis revealed two compounds CID 550198 and CID 10393 with a good binding affinity to all the targeted receptors together with promising pharmacokinetic and toxicity profiles evident from ADME/T analysis. Consequently, the respective molecular dynamic simulation study confirmed the stability of the protein‐ligand complexes. Moreover, two compounds with CID 550198 and CID 10393 might be used as natural lead compounds for the treatment of anxiety, sleep disorders, and depression. Yet, advanced studies are required to reveal the fundamental mechanism of these activities.

The study evaluated the antioxidant and neuropharmacological effects of Oroxylum indicum bark (MOIB), identifying 20 phytochemicals through GC–MS analysis. MOIB exhibited anxiolytic, sedative, and antidepressant effects in various behavioral tests, with two compounds (CID 550198 and CID 10393) showing strong binding affinities to targeted receptors and promising pharmacokinetic profiles. Molecular dynamic simulations confirmed the stability of these complexes, suggesting these compounds as potential treatments for anxiety, sleep disorders, and depression.