Butanol Fraction of Olax Subscorpioidea Produces Antidepressant Effect: Evidence for the Involvement of Monoaminergic Neurotransmission

Abstract

This study sought to investigate involvement of monoaminergic mechanism in the antidepressant action of butanol fraction (BF) of Olax subscorpioidea in rodents and the bioactive principles present. Butanol fraction was evaluated for antidepressant-like effect in the tail suspension, forced swimming and open field tests. All animals were treated with BF (5, 10 & 20 mg/kg) thirty minutes prior to the tests. On the other hand, monoaminergic neurotransmission involvement was probed by pre-treating animals with yohimbine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg, α antagonist), prazosin (62.5 µg/kg, α antagonist), propranolol (2 mg/kg, non-selective β antagonist), sulpiride (50 mg/kg, D receptor blocker), haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg, non-selective D receptor blocker), metergoline (4 mg/kg, i.p., a 5HT-receptor blocker) and PCPA (100 mg/kg, i.p., inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase), fifteen minute before treatment with BF (10 mg/kg). Identification of the major bioactive constituents was done by HPLC. The findings show that BF (5 & 10 mg/kg) significantly decreased immobility in despair tests of depression without effect on locomotor activity. The data also shows that anti-immobility effect of BF (10 mg/kg) in the TST was reversed by prazosin, yohimbine, haloperidol, sulpiride, metagoline and PCPA but not with propranolol. Bioactive principles present are caffeic acid, rutin, morin and quercetin. In conclusion, our findings show that BF produces antidepressant-like effect, which may be dependent on its interaction with the monoaminergic system.

Ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Olax subscorpioidea Oliv (Olacaceae): a review

“…The results also demonstrated a significant reduction in diarrhoea in the reserpine model of depression [13]. Adeoluwa et al reported the possible involvement of adrenergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic systems in the antidepressant activity of Olax subscorpioidea [31]. Several antidepressant drugs such as tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors reduce immobility time [46].…”

“…The butanol leaves' fraction of Olax subscorpioidea revealed rutin, morin, quercetin, and caffeic acid [31]. Oladipupo et al identified the presence of n-hexadecanoic acid (17.6%), 7,10,13-hexadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester (0.84%), 9,17-octadecadienal, (Z)-(2.87%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-(18.0%), octadecanoic acid (4.05%), squalene (4.12%), nonacosane (5.54%), and hentriacontane (1.22%) in the n-hexane leaf extract of the plant [44].…”

Antidepressant Potential of Cinnamic Acids: Mechanisms of Action and Perspectives in Drug Development

“…and was involved in the monoaminergic mechanism. Analysis of the chemical composition by HPLC indicated caffeic acid as one of the active ingredients of the plant [55]. In another study, ethyl acetate fraction from Tabernaemontana catharinensis A. DC.…”

N-butanol fraction of Olax subscorpioidea Oliv. (Olacaceae) attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced depressive-like symptoms in mice.

“…The main chemical constituents of the plant are alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, saponins, avonoids and terpenoids (Ayandele and Adebiyi, 2007;Victoria et al, 2010). High performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) analysis of the butanol fraction has revealed the presence of caffeic acid, rutin, morin and quercetin following mapping of peaks with their respective commercial standards (Adeoluwa et al, 2019). In our previous studies, we validated the traditional claim of its analgesic effect (Adeoluwa et al, 2014) and reported an antidepressant property of the crude extract in rodents using despair tests (Adeoluwa et al, 2015).…”

“…Ishola et al (2015) reported anti-in ammatory property of the crude extract of O. subscorpioidea. Furthermore, anti-immobility action and antidepressant effect of the butanol fraction of the leaves in the predictive models of depression were reported and it was concluded that the effect might be mediated via monoaminergic neurotransmission (Adeoluwa et al, 2019). However, with a growing body of evidence linking neuroin ammation and depressive symptoms, there is a need to investigate the potential therapeutic bene t of this plant in in ammatory-related depression.…”