Evaluation of phytochemical constituents by GC-MS and antidepressant activity of Peganum harmala L. seeds extract

Objective: To identify the phytochemical constituents of Peganum harmala L. (P. harmala) seeds extract by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and evaluate their antidepressant activity. Methods: The seeds extract was analyzed by GC-MS to identify their major chemical compounds. The antidepressant activity of P. harmala was demonstrated using the forced swim test and the adrenocorticotropic hormone analysis. After oral administration of the seeds extract and diazepam in rats, the immobility time in the forced swim test was measured and the defecation rate was estimated for all rats. Results: GC-MS analysis showed the presence of indole alkaloids (β-carboline), for exmaple harmaline (48.009%), harmine (38.440%), tetrahydroharmine (8.513%), tetrahydroharman (0.061%) and 6-methoxytetrahydro-1-norharmanone (0.057%) were present in the extract. The results showed that the P. harmala extract (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) were able to reduce the immobility time (80.20 ± 9.01, 46.80 ± 8.53; P < 0.001), the adrenocorticotropic hormone rate (131.33 ± 12.72, 49.72 ± 13.03; P < 0.001) and the defecation rate (1.400 ± 1.342, 0.600 ± 0.548; P < 0.01), respectively. Conclusions: This indicates that the seeds extract can correct the depression and reach the normal state of the treated animals. The results demonstrated that seeds represented a source of indole alkaloids (harmaline, harmine and tetrahydroharmine).