Efek Kombinasi Ekstrak Kunyit (Curcuma longa L.) dan Asam Jawa (Tamarindus indica) sebagai Antidepressan pada Pengamatan Perilaku Ikan Zebra (Danio rerio)

Cesa, Fibe Yulinda
Aditya, Martanty
Fauziah, Mutiara
Weol, Euodia Gloria Friska
Aini, Anisa Nur

Jurnal Ilmiah Farmasi
Vol. 22 No. 2 (2026): Jurnal Ilmiah Farmasi

Background: Antidepressants are a common treatment for depression, requiring ongoing medication monitoring. Extracts of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and tamarind (Tamarindus indica) have shown significant potential as antidepressants due to their respective mechanisms. This study explores how these compounds interact to provide antidepressant effects, specifically using a zebrafish model.Objective: To evaluate the antidepressant effects of turmeric and tamarind extracts in a zebrafish model by observing behavioral changes such as freezing and rapid movement.Method: The Open Field Test (OFT) was used, utilizing the AnimApp application to categorize freezing and rapid movement behaviors in zebrafish. The treatment groups consisted of a negative control, a depression control, a positive control (vitamin B6), and treatment groups with concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 30% of the extract combination. Both vitamin and extract combinations were administered intraperitoneally. Data were analyzed using ANOVA at a 95% confidence level. Results: The positive control group showed the lowest rapid movement (0.1 ± 0.1 m/s), indicating a strong anxiolytic effect, while the 30% extract group exhibited the highest rapid movement (9.8 ± 1.1 m/s), which may reflect increased stress (p < 0.05). The depression control group had the longest freezing duration (24.6 ± 7.3 seconds), whereas all extract treatment groups (10%, 20%, and 30%) demonstrated significant reductions in freezing with durations of 1.1 ± 0.8, 2.1 ± 1.4, and 2.2 ± 2.0 seconds, respectively (p < 0.05). The decrease in freezing time in the extract groups was even lower than the positive control (2.6 ± 0.8 seconds).Conclusion: The combination of tamarind and turmeric extracts demonstrated a significant antidepressant effect in zebrafish at a 10% concentration, with a notable reduction in freezing behavior. However, higher concentrations (20% and 30%) did not enhance this effect and instead triggered an increase in rapid movement activity. This indicates the need for dose optimization to ensure effective and safe use of this extract combination.