title: Effect of Hypericum perforatum on marble-burying by mice.
abstract: The effect of Hypericum perforatum extract (LI 160) at a dose that exerts an antidepressive-like effect was studied in mice in the marble-burying test. Acute Hypericum perforatum (150, 300 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced immobility time in the forced swimming test. The number of marbles buried, but not locomotor activity, was reduced by acute treatment with Hypericum perforatum (150 and 300 mg/kg, p.o.). However, this effect was not seen after chronic treatment (21 days) with Hypericum perforatum (300 mg/kg, p.o.). Thus, Hypericum perforatum extract, at antidepressant dose, exerts an acute anxiolytic drug effect on the marble-burying test, which could indicate a potential anti-obsessive effect, although the development of tolerance could be an important drawback.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Laboratório de Fisiologia e Farmacologia do Sistema Nervoso Central, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Skalisz
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Beijamini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andreatini
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020902:Hypericum; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts