eng Oriental Scientific Publishing Company Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia 0973-1245 2026-06-23 23 2 59163 article Damayanti Dayanand Khutwad 1 Kishor Otari 1 Ajay Kale 1 Department of Pharmacology, Navsahyadri Institute of Pharmacy, Naigaon, Pune, India Depression is a highly prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by persistent low mood, anhedonia, cognitive dysfunction, and impaired quality of life. Despite the availability of pharmacological treatments, their therapeutic outcomes remain suboptimal due to delayed onset of action, incomplete remission, and significant adverse effects. These limitations have prompted increasing interest in alternative therapeutic approaches, particularly those derived from medicinal plants. Neurophytopharmacology, an emerging interdisciplinary field, focuses on the interaction between plant-derived bioactive compounds and the central nervous system. Experimental evidence from animal models, such as the forced swim test, tail suspension test, and chronic unpredictable mild stress model, has demonstrated significant antidepressant-like activity of various plant extracts. Phytochemicals, including flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, exert their effects through multiple mechanisms, including modulation of monoaminergic neurotransmission, attenuation of oxidative stress, suppression of neuroinflammation, and enhancement of neuroplasticity. This review summarizes the current experimental evidence on medicinal plants with antidepressant potential, their mechanisms of action, and their relevance in preclinical models of depression. https://www.biotech-asia.org/vol23no2/neurophytopharmacology-in-depression-emerging-antidepressant-potential-of-medicinal-plants-from-experimental-animal-models/ Animal models; Antidepressant activity; Depression; Herbal medicine; Medicinal plants; Neurophytopharmacology; Neuroprotection; Phytochemicals