Depression is a heterogeneous mood disorder that has been classified and treated in a variety of ways. Although a number of synthetic drugs are being used as standard treatment for clinically depressed patients, they have adverse effects that can compromise the therapeutic treatment. Thus, it is worthwhile to look for antidepressants from plants with proven advantage and favourable benefit-to-risk ratio. A number of medicinal plants per se and medicines derived from these plants have shown antidepressant properties by virtue of their medicinal constituents. The causes of depression are decreased brain levels of monoamines like noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin. Therefore, drugs restoring the reduced levels of these monoamines in the brain either by inhibiting monoamine oxidase or by inhibiting reuptake of these neurotransmitters might be fruitful in the treatment of depression. The present review is focused on the medicinal plants and plant-based formulations having antidepressant activity in animal studies and in humans.
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