Buchholzia coriacea, taken by elderly, has phytochemicals that have neuro-active metabolites, and the folklore documented its use in neuro-behavioral despairs. Previous study in our laboratory shows that methanol extracts of Buchholzia coriacea (MEBC) seeds possess antidepressant-like potentials in laboratory rodents. This present study was conducted to investigate the probable mechanism(s) of action by which MEBC potentiates its effects using laboratory rodents. Involvements of serotonergic,

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... olinergic and adrenergic systems were studied using Forced Swimming Test (FST) and Tail Suspension Test (TST) models of behavioral despair. Antagonists which including: Prazosin, an alpha-1-adrenergic receptor blocker (62.5 μg/kg, i.p.), metergoline, a 5HT2 receptor blocker (4 mg/kg, i.p.) and atropine, a-muscarinic cholinergic receptor blocker (1mg/kg i.p.) were administered before effective dose of MEBC (50mg/kg). Also, the hippocampi of the animals were studied for changes in neuronal density using Nissl Staining. Our findings showed that mobility was reversed in animals pre-treated with atropine, prazosin, and metergoline significantly (P˂0.05), showing a possible involvement of the corresponding systems. However, there was a significant reduction in immobility time (P<0.001) during FST after chronic administration of the MEBC. The hippocampus showed no significant changes (P<0.05) in neuronal density. In conclusion, MEBC probably potentiates its antidepressant-like potentials via the cholinergic, adrenergic and partly by serotonergic systems.