title: Effects of Hypericum perforatum extraction on alcohol intake in Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats.
abstract: The present study investigated the effect of acute intragastric (i.g.) administration of dry Hypericum perforatum extract (HPE), containing 0.3% hypericin, on ethanol intake in genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats. The i.g. administration of HPE, 125 or 250 mg/kg, induced a 30-40% reduction in ethanol intake in rats offered 10% (v/v) ethanol for 2 h/day. The effect of these doses was selective, since they modified neither food intake nor food-associated drinking; neither did the same doses modify the rat's gross behaviour in the open-field test. A dose of 500 mg/kg frequently induced immobility and a general suppression of ingestive behaviour. In rats offered 10% ethanol for 12 h/day, ethanol intake following treatment with 250 mg/kg HPE was significantly lower than that of controls for up to 10 h. The effect on ethanol intake was not related to the antidepressant-like effect of HPE revealed in the forced swimming test. In this regard, the effect on ethanol intake was observed after a single administration of 125 mg/kg, whereas the antidepressant effect was observed only after repeated treatment with doses higher than 125 mg/kg HPE. The i.g. administration of HPE, 250 mg/kg, did not affect blood-alcohol levels following i.g. treatment with 0.7 g/kg ethanol, the amount usually ingested in a single drinking episode; thus, the effect is not related to changes in the pharmacokinetics of ethanol. The present study shows that HPE markedly reduces ethanol intake in msP rats, without significantly modifying food intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Experimental Medicine, University of Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perfumi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciccocioppo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Angeletti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cucculelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massi
mesh_terms: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D020902:Hypericum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol