Abstract Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders that is classified as mood disorder. Medicinal plants have long been used as a treatment for depression. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is widely used in traditional medicine as a nutritional supplements and also a drug. Sixty male mice in the weight range of 25-30g were divided into eight groups of control, depression, imipramine and 50,100, and 200mg/kg of ginger’s extract. Mice were kept under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity, natural light cycles with sufficient water and food. 24 hours before test, mice transferred to the test site. On the morning of the test, Drug injections were done and after 55 minutes, tail suspension and forced swimming tests were performed. After that, blood samples were taken and cortisol amount was measured. Obtained data were analyzed using SPSS program. Ginger’s extract in dose of 50mg/kg had different cortisol amount from imipramine and control groups (P<0.01). 100 and 200mg/kg doses had different cortisol amount from depressed group (P<0.01) but not from imipramine and control groups. According to results, hydroalcoholic extract of ginger in 100 and 200 mg/kg doses can increase cortisol amount and act similar to imipramine in depression.
Keyword: ginger, depression, imipramine, cortisol, mice.