Indole Alkaloids from Plants as Potential Leads for Antidepressant Drugs: A Mini Review

Abstract

Depression is the most common illness observed in the elderly, adults, and children. Antidepressants prescribed are usually synthetic drugs and these can sometimes cause a wide range of unpleasant side effects. Current research is focussed on natural products from plants as they are a rich source of potent new drug leads. Besides Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort), the plants studied include Passiflora incarnata L. (passion flower), Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), Piper methysticum G. Forst (kava) and Valeriana officinalis L. Harman, harmol, harmine, harmalol and harmaline are indole alkaloids isolated from P. incarnata, while mitragynine is isolated from M. speciosa. The structure of isolated compounds from P. methysticum G. Forst and V. officinalis L. contains an indole moiety. The indole moiety is related to the neurotransmitter serotonin which is widely implicated for brain function and cognition as the endogenous receptor agonist. An imbalance in serotonin levels may influence mood in a way that leads to depression. The moiety is present in a number of antidepressants already on the market. Hence, the objective of this review is to discuss bioactive compounds containing the indole moiety from plants that can serve as potent antidepressants.

GC-MS profiling and antidepressant-like effect of the extracts of Hamelia patens in animal model

“…In addition, this finding suggested that reduction of immobility time elicited by chloroform extract in forced swim test as well as tail suspension test was specifically arises via its antidepressant mechanism. As per literature, indole alkaloids, amides and steroidal components show antidepressant activity (Hamid, 2017). The above constituents were also present in chloroform extract of H. patens which may be responsible for antidepressant activity.…”

Bioassay-Guided Isolation of Ochrolifuanine: A Bisindole Alkaloid of Dyera Costulata Active on Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei

“…To our knowledge, this is the first report which described the antitrypanosomal activity of ochrolifuanine. Indole alkaloids are widely distributed in plants belonging to the families of Apocynaceae, Loganiaceae, Rubiaceae and Nyssacea (Hamid et al 2017). Bisindole alkaloids contain a bicyclic structure, consisting of a six-membered benzene ring fused to a five-membered nitrogen-containing pyrrole ring.…”

Synesthesia Occurring After the Use of Japanese Kiken Drugs: A Case Report

“…Many SCs are based on an indole scaffold (Banister et al 2015). Because indole structurally resembles serotonin, it is speculated that it may act as a serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor agonist (Hamid et al 2017). According to the literature, given that 5-HT 2A receptor signaling is an important site of action for hallucinogens, an upregulation of 5-HT 2A receptors after long-term activation of the cannabinoid receptor type 2 by SCs might, presumably, lead to perceptual disturbances (Tai & Fantegrossi 2017, Amodeo et al 2014).…”