APPLICATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR MANAGEMENT OF DEPRESSION

Abstract: The global pursuit of effective and safe natural treatments for depression is gaining fresh attention due to the many negative effects linked to many current pharmaceuticals. The use of plants for the management of depression and associated symptoms is well-documented across many ethnic groups in South Africa. Plants having ethnobotanical evidence underwent an additional pharmacological assessment to determine their potential efficacy as antidepressants. Depression is a mental health illness arising from intricate psycho- neuroimmuno-endocrinological disruptions. This condition manifests as mood disorders, chronic sorrow, diminished interest, and cognitive impairment, resulting in discomfort for the patient and substantially hindering their capacity to function and maintain a fulfilling familial, social, and professional life. Depression need thorough management, include pharmaceutical intervention. Due to the protracted nature of pharmacotherapy for depression, which has the potential for various undesirable medication effects, much focus is directed towards alternative therapeutic approaches, including phytopharmacotherapy, particularly for mild to moderate depression. This study examined existing ethnobotanical, ethnopharmacological, and phytochemical research on South African medicinal herbs used for the treatment of depression. Electronic databases were used to retrieve scientific material that satisfies the inclusion criteria. This narrative review is derived from a conventional, non- systematic literature examination. This text succinctly examines the pathogenesis, symptomatology, and therapy of depression, emphasizing the significance of phytopharmacology in its management. It elucidates the mechanisms of action identified in experimental investigations of active compounds extracted from herbal antidepressants and gives findings from selected clinical research validating their antidepressant efficacy.