title: Activity of Hypericum brasiliense and Hypericum cordatum on the central nervous system in rodents.
abstract: Hydroalcoholic extracts from species Hypericum brasiliense Choisy (HB) and Hypericum cordatum (Vell. Conc.) N. Robson (HC), were evaluated on the central nervous system (CNS) in some pharmacological tests. Signs of toxicity were observed for both species during the initial screening when high doses of up to 100 mg/kg (i.p.) and 1000 mg/kg (oral) were utilized. HC presented greater toxicity, with LD(50) of 269 mg/kg, as compared to HB (537 mg/kg). Alterations in sleeping time and in motor coordination were not observed both for HB and for HC. On the other hand, both species showed signs of general depressant action on the CNS, verified by decreased motor activity. Furthermore, animals treated with HB presented an increase in response time to thermal stimulus with doses of 50 mg/kg (i.p.) and 500 mg/kg (oral) suggesting possible analgesic action. Both HB and HC were tested in animal models to verify antidepressant action (forced swimming and hypothermy induced by apomorphine). In these tests, neither of the plants inhibited hypothermy, nor did they reduce immobility time in forced swimming.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychobiology, UNIFESP, R Botucatu, 862-Ed Ciências Biomédicas (1 andar), CEP 04023-062, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. fulvio@psicobio.epm.br
authors.forename: Fúlvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rieli Mendes
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.forename: Elisaldo Luiz
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: de Araújo Carlini
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D001058:Apomorphine; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020902:Hypericum; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001058:Apomorphine