:
Depression, a well know mental disorder has global prevalence, nearly affecting
17% of population. Due to various limitations of the currently available drugs,
people have been adopting traditional herbal medicines to alleviate the
symptoms of depression. It is notable to mention that natural products, their
derivatives, and their analogs are the main source for new drug candidates in
depression. The mechanisms include interplay with γ-aminobutyric acid
(GABA) receptors, serotonergic, dopaminergic noradrenergic systems, and
elevation of BDNF levels. The focus of this review is to revisit the role of
signalling molecules in depression and highlight the use of plant-derived natural
compounds to counter depression in the CNS.