Effect of Indian Hypericum perforatum Linn on animal models of cognitive dysfunction

The chemical composition of St. John's wort has been well-studied. Documented pharmacological activities, including antidepressant, antiviral, and antibacterial effects, provide supporting evidence for several of the traditional uses stated for St John's wort. Many pharmacological activities appear to be attributable to hypericin and to the flavonoid constituents ; hypericin is also reported to be responsible for the photosensitive reactions that have been documented for St. John's wort. With regard to the antidepressant effects of St John's wort, hyperforin, rather than hypericin as originally thought, has emerged as one of the major constituents responsible for antidepressant activity. Further research is required to determine which other constituents contribute to the antidepressant effect.Evidence from randomised controlled trials has confirmed the efficacy of St John's wort extracts over placebo in the treatment of mild-to-moderately severe depression. Other randomised controlled studies have provided some evidence that St John's wort extracts are as effective as some standard antidepressants in mild-to-moderate depression. There is still a need for further trials to assess the efficacy of St John's wort extracts, compared with that of standard antidepressants, particularly newer antidepressant agents, such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (recent comparative studies with fluoxetine and sertraline have been conducted). Also, there is a need for further studies in well-defined groups of patients, in different types of depression, and conducted over longer periods in order to determine longterm safety. St John's wort does appear to have a more favourable short-term safety profile than do standard antidepressants, a factor that is likely to be important in patients continuing to take medication.Concerns have been raised over interactions between St John's wort and certain prescribed medicines (including warfarin, ciclosporin, theophylline, digoxin, HIV protease inhibitors, anticonvulsants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, triptans, oral contraceptives) ; advice is that patients taking these medicines should stop taking St John's wort, generally after seeking professional advice as dose adjustment of conventional treatment may be necessary.

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“…This was comparable to that seen with intraperitoneal piracetam 500 mg kg − 1 (a nootropic agent) (Kumar et al 2000).…”

Section: Other Activitiessupporting

confidence: 76%

St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.): a review of its chemistry, pharmacology and clinical properties

Barnes

Anderson

Phillipson

2001

Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

688

462

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“…14,18,19) Similarly, in several models of cognitive dysfunction, Indian Hypericum perforatum L. presented nootropic activity which was qualitatively comparable with that induced by piracetam. 13) Our results also agree with studies showing significant enhancement of the cognitive performance in depressive patients treated for 4 weeks with Hypericum extract. 20) In a controlled, randomized double blind clinical trial, Hypericum extract improved cognitive functions better than maprotiline.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…[7][8][9][10][11][12] Memory enhancing properties in rodents were observed only after acute or short-term Hypericum administration. 13,14) Depression is often accompanied by diminished ability to think or concentrate and impairment of memory. 15) Commonly used synthetic antidepressants are known to have antimuscarinic side-effects associated with sedation, and delirium symptoms, increasing already impaired cognition processes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Long Term Administration of Hypericum perforatum Improves Spatial Learning and Memory in the Water Maze.

Widy-Tyszkiewicz

Piechal

Joniec

et al. 2002

Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin

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The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of long-term Hypericum perforatum treatment on spatial learning and memory in rats. Hypericum preparation (HP) standardized to 0.3% hypericin content was administered orally for 9 weeks in doses of 4.3 and 13 m mg/kg corresponding to therapeutic dosages in humans of 0.3 and 0.9 mg of total hypericins daily. A Morris water maze paradigm was used. The mean escape latency over 4 d for the Control group (21.9 s) and HP 4.3 group (21.7 s) was significantly greater than the latency of the HP 13 group (15.8 s). In the probe trial on day 5, the HP 13 group crossed the correct annulus in the SE quadrant more often (4.5) than the other groups: Con (2.4) and HP 4.3 (3.1). After completion of the behavioral experiment, the regional brain concentrations of monoamines and metabolites were estimated in selected brain regions, i.e. prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated significant differences in the content of monoamines and metabolites between the treatment groups compared to the Control. The increased 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in the prefrontal cortex correlated positively with the retention of spatial memory. These findings show that the long-term administration of Hypericum perforatum can improve learning and spatial memory with significant changes in the content of monoamines in several brain regions.Key words Hypericum perforatum; water maze; spatial memory; monoamine; prefrontal cortex; 5-hydroxytryptamine west (SW) arbitrarily. Rats were trained to locate a transparent hidden plexiglas platform (10 cmϫ10 cm), 29 cm high and 1 cm below the water surface. The pool was surrounded by several prominent cues to spatial coordinates, including items such as a shelf, several posters, a video camera, illumination lights and the presence of the researcher and one assistant. All rats were given one session of four trials daily for four consecutive days. For each trial, the rat was placed in the water facing the wall of the pool at one of three equally spaced starting points, excluding the quadrant with the platform. The order in which these starting points were used was determined randomly for each trial and changed each day to prevent the use of a simple taxis strategy, but the location of the escape platform was always centered in the SE quadrant. A trial was terminated when the rat reached and entered the platform. If the animal did not find the platform within 60 s it was placed on the platform for 15 s before the next trial was initiated. Rats that failed to find the platform were given a latency score of 60 s. At the end of the day's session, the rat was wiped in a cloth to dry it, and returned to its home cage. The probe trial was conducted the day after the last training session. There was no platform in place during the probe trial, and none of the animals received any drug treatment prior to being placed in the maze. The rats were allowed to swim for 60 s before the end of the session. Data were recorded...

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“…Since allopathic system of medicine has not a perfect treatment, it is desirable to deal the disease with herbal medication, especially for the geriatric patients (Dhingra, 2004). Nootropic drugs are a class of psychotropic drugs that enhance learning acquisition and reverse learning impairments in experimental animals, and are likely to be clinically effective in Memory Dysfunctions (Kumar, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Nootropic activity of Cressa cretica in scopola-mine- induced memory impairment in mice

Khare

Chaudhary²,

Singh³

et al. 2014

International Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology

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The present investigation was undertaken to assess the pharmacological effects of Cressa cretica on learning and memory in mice. Morris water maze was used to test learning and memory. Two doses (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) of ethanolic extract of Cressa cretica were administered for 28 successive days in mice. The dose of 400 mg/kg p.o. of CCE (Cressa cretica extract) significantly enhanced learning and memory of mice. This dose significantly opposed the memory loss caused by Scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.). The effect of CCE on whole brain MDA, SOD, GSH, Catalase, NO activity was estimated to analyze how CCE shows nootropic activity. CCE reduced whole brain MDA, NO levels. Antioxidant properties and presence of flavonoids in Cressa cretica may be responsible for nootropic activity. Piracetam (200 mg/kg, i.p) was utilized as standard nootropic drug. Hence Cressa cretica seems to be a potent candidate for enhancing learning and memory and it would be beneficial for the treatment of amnesia and Alzheimer's disease.

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Effect of Indian Hypericum perforatum Linn on animal models of cognitive dysfunction

Cited by 46 publications

References 15 publications

St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.): a review of its chemistry, pharmacology and clinical properties

St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.): a review of its chemistry, pharmacology and clinical properties

Long Term Administration of Hypericum perforatum Improves Spatial Learning and Memory in the Water Maze.

Evaluation of Nootropic activity of Cressa cretica in scopola-mine- induced memory impairment in mice

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