There exists a controversy in the causality of depression and diabetes. Depression is known to cause physical illness like diabetes and vice versa. This controversy has also been extended to the therapeutic scope of metformin in improving depressive symptoms among diabetic patients. The reported claim on the potential antidepressant activity of metformin is yet to be validated. The aim of the study was to investigate the antidepressant activity of metformin in acute models of depression. The antidepressant activity of metformin (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was investigated using the tail suspension test (TST) and the forced swim test (FST) in mice. The effect of metformin on exploratory behaviour was assessed using open field test (OFT). Metformin did not significantly alter the immobility time of mice in both TST and FST. Sertraline significantly (p ≤ 0.05 and p ≤ 0.01) decreased IMT in both TST and FST respectively. Metformin non-significantly alter number of line cross (NLC) significantly (p ≤ 0.01) decreased number of rearing (NR) only at 100 mg/kg. Diazepam significantly (p ≤ 0.01) increased NLC and significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased NR in OFT. Metformin does not possess antidepressant-like activity.

The drugs that control fertility are termed anti-fertility agents and are also called oral contraceptives. Many plants are reported to have fertility regulatory activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antifertility activity on the stem bark of D. senegalense on female mice. In the present study anti-fertility evaluation was carried out using three extracts from stem bark of D. senegalense by oral administration at doses of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg. Control was maintained using 2ml normal saline. After 14days of treatment the female mice were mated with male mice in the ratio of 2:1. After 10 days of mating laparotomy was carried out and the number of implantation sites in the uterine horns were recorded. The anti-implantation activity of the three extracts when administered before mating was significant when compared with control. The results of the present study conclude that the extracts of D. senegalense were observed to have anti-implantation activity which supports the basis of its use in traditional medicine as contraceptive.