EFEK MINYAK ATSIRI DAUN KEMANGI (OCIMUM BASILICUM) SEBAGAI ANTIDEPRESAN PADA MENCIT BALB/C DITINJAU DARI IMMOBILITY TIME PADA TAIL SUSPENSION TEST

Abstract

Background: The use of medicinal plants is growing widely in the community, one of which is basil (Ocimum basilicum). This plant is believed to have various properties, one of them as an antidepressant. It is suspected that eugenol is the substance in Ocimum basilicum that raises the antidepressant effect. This study aimed to assess the antidepressant effect of Ocimum basilicum. Method: The experimental research design with post test only control group design. Samples of 20 male Balb/c divided into 4 groups, they are K+, P1, P2, and P3. During the 2 weeks all groups of mice were hanged by their tails for 6 minutes/day. After that, during the two weeks without hanging their tail, K+ given aquadest, P1 given the essential oil of 2.5 x 10-4 ml/kg BW, P2 given a dose of 2.5 x 10-3 ml/kg BW, and P3 were given doses 2.5 x 10-2 ml/kg BW. Administration of essentiai oil is done peroral with a sonde. After 2 weeks of drug administration, Tail suspension test were performed at all groups for 6 minutes to measure immobility time of each group. The data were analyzed with Shapiro-Wilk test followed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test. Result: Kruskal-Wallis test showed significant difference (p=0,036). Mann-Whitney test showed significant difference between group P3 compared to P1 (p=0,016) and P3 compared to K+ (p=0,008). There was no significant difference between the P3 compared to P2 and between P1 compared to P2 and K+ (p>0,05). Conclusion: Essential oils of Ocimum basilicum at the dose of 2.5 x 10-2 ml/kg BW had an antidepressant effect in Balb/c mice measured from the immobility time in tail suspension test. Keywords: Ocimum basilicum, antidepressant, Tail suspension test