Table 4.
Emerging novel therapeutic agents for managing depression.
| Plant (Family) | Country of Study | Plant part Evaluated | Mechanism (s) of anti-depressant activity | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adansonia digitata (Bombacaceae) | Nigeria | Stem bark | Dopaminergic, muscarinic and noradrenaergic pathways | (Murtala and Akindele, 2020) |
| Agapanthus campanulatus (Alliaceae) | South Africa | Leaves, Flowers, Roots | Inhibition of SERT, NET and DAT | (Pedersen et al., 2008) |
| Boophone distica (Amaryllidaceae) | South Africa | Bulb | Inhibition of SERT, NET and DAT | (Pedersen et al., 2008) |
| Cymbopogon citratus | Nigeria | Leaves | Via serotonergic and noradrenergic pathways | (Umukoro et al., 2017) |
| Gladiolus dalenii (Iridaceae) | Cameroon | Corms | Via NMDA, serotonin and noradrenergic systems | (Ngoupaye et al., 2014a) |
| Kalankoe integra (Crassulaceae) | Ghana | Leaves | Via serotoninergic, opioidergic, and noradrenergic systems | (Kukuia et al., 2015) |
| Mondia whitei (Asclepiadeace) | South Africa | Inhibition of SERT | (Pedersen et al., 2008) | |
| Newbouldia laevis (Bignoniaceae) | Nigeria | Leaves | Via D2 receptor | (Murtala and Akindele, 2020) |
| Palisuta hirsute (Commelinaceae) | Ghana | Leaves | Potentiation of noradrenergic neurotransmission | (Woode et al., 2010) |
| Pseudospondias microcarpa (Anacardiaceae) | Ghana | Leaves | Via NMDA, nitric oxide and serotonin pathways | (Adongo et al., 2015) |
| Ruta graveolens (Rutaceae) | South Africa | Leaves | Monoamine oxidase inhibition | (Stafford et al., 2007) |
| Sceletium tortuosum (Aizoaceae) | South Africa | Monoamine oxidase inhibition | (Coetzee et al., 2016) | |
| Trichilia monadelpha (Meliaceae) | Ghana | Stem bark | Serotonergic and Opiodergic mechanisms | (Kukuia et al., 2018) |
| Xylopia aethiopica | Ghana | Fruits | Enhancement of 5-HT neurotransmission | (Biney et al., 2016) |