Biological activities of Juglans regia flowers

Antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antihypoxic and antioxidant activities of methanol extract of Juglans regia L., Juglandaceae, flower were investigated. Antidepressant activity was examined by forced swimming test and tail suspension test in mice. Antihypoxic activity was investigated in haemic and circulatory models. The effects were pronounced in both models. It produced statistically significant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced edema at nearly all doses, when compared to control groups. IC50 for DPPH radical-scavenging activity was 674 +/- 27.6 mu g mL(-1). Extract showed good Fe2+ chelating ability ( IC50 43 +/- 1.5 mu g mL(-1)). It exhibited low antioxidant activity in linoleic acid peroxidation test. Its pharmacological effects may be attributed, in part, to the presence of phenols and flavonoids in the extract.