Effect of Ethanol Adiantum Capillus-Veneris Extract in Experimental Models of Anxiety and Depression

In a study from 2019, researchers investigated the effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris, a species of maidenhair fern, on anxiety and depression in rats. Fifty white male rats weighing 250-300 grams were divided into five groups of ten. Group 1 received normal saline, groups 2-4 received varying doses of A. capillus-veneris extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg), and group 5 received fluoxetine (10 mg/kg). After inducing chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) for three weeks, the rats were tested for depression and anxiety using the forced swim test and plus maze, respectively. The highest dose of A. capillus-veneris extract (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced immobility duration in the forced swim test and increased the number of open arm entries and time spent in the open arm in the plus maze, indicating antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects. Additionally, the extract reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased antioxidant levels in the serum and brain, suggesting that the therapeutic effects may be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.