Study of antidepressant-like activity of an enriched phloroglucinol fraction obtained fromHypericum caprifoliatum

Abstract

Context: Hypericum caprifoliatum Cham & Schlecht (Guttiferae) extracts have a potential antidepressant-like effect in rodents. However, the molecular mechanisms by which these extracts exert this effect remain unclear.Objective: This study evaluated the effect of HC1, a fraction obtained from H. caprifoliatum enriched in phloroglucinol derivatives, on the Naþ ATPase activity in mouse brain and verified the influence of veratrine on the effect of HC1 in the forced swimming test (FST). Materials and methods: Veratrine (0.06 mg/kg) and HC1 (360 mg/kg) were given alone or combined i.p. 60 and p.o. 30 min, respectively, before FST. The effect of single and repeated administration (once a day for 3 consecutive days) of HC1 (360 mg/kg) on Na þ , K þ ATPase activity was evaluated ex vivo in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of mice subjected or not to FST. Results: HC1 reduced the immobility time (103.15 AE 18.67 s), when compared to the control group (183.6 AE 9.51 s). This effect was prevented by veratrine (151.75 AE 22.19 s). Mice repeatedly treated with HC1 presented a significant increase in Na þ , K þ ATPase activity, both in cerebral cortex (46 AE 2.41 nmol Pi/minÁmg protein) and hippocampus (49.83 AE 2.31 nmol Pi/minÁmg protein), in relation to the respective controls (30 AE 2.66 and 29.83 AE 2.31 nmol Pi/minÁmg protein respectively). Discussion and conclusion: The HC1 antidepressant-like effect on FST might be related to its capacity to inhibit Na þ influx. HC1 increases hippocampal and cortical Na þ , K þ ATPase activities possibly through long-term regulatory mechanisms.

Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Depression: Evidence from Preclinical Studies

“…Apparently, hypericin is the main active principle from the extract [209]. Other species of Hypericum have also been studied as potential antidepressant-like agents, including H. canariense [210], H. caprifoliatum [211][212][213][214][215][216][217], H. glandulosum [210,211], H. grandifolium [211], H. perfoliatum [218,219], H. polyanthemum [220], and H. reflexum [211]. All were studied in similar protocols, but H. caprifoliatum was the most extensively researched, with both the extract and the phloroglucinol fraction evaluated in an FST model.…”

“…All were studied in similar protocols, but H. caprifoliatum was the most extensively researched, with both the extract and the phloroglucinol fraction evaluated in an FST model. The activity was associated with an increase in monoaminergic transmission due to the inhibition of monoamine uptake [212], along with the inhibition of Na + influx, which increases hippocampal and cortical Na + K + -ATPase activities [213] by the phloroglucinol compounds. The lipophilic extract was also found to prevent stress-induced corticosterone increases in the mouse frontal cortex but not in plasma, exerting an antinociceptive effect mediated indirectly by the opioid system [214].…”

The protective effect of Hypericum connatum on stress-induced escape deficit in rat is related to its flavonoid content

“…On the other hand, little is known about possible antidepressant effects of other Hypericum species, that may also contain different secondary metabolites compared with H. perforatum. Among the Hypericum spp., those native of South America have only recently been investigated and, similar to what is known for H. perforatum, a variety of biological effects have been reported for the extracts of several of these species, such as antiviral, antimicrobial, antinociceptive and central nervous system activities in in vitro and in vivo tests (Gnerre et al 2001;Viana et al 2006;Centurião et al 2014). One of the South American species is Hypericum connatum Lam., widely used in traditional medicine as tonic, astringent, and to treat mouth wounds (Corrêa 1984).…”