title: Psychopharmacological profile of the alkaloid psychollatine as a 5HT2A/C serotonin modulator.
abstract: Behavioral effects of psychollatine, a new glycoside indole monoterpene alkaloid isolated from Psychotria umbellata, was investigated in models of anxiety, depression, memory, tremor, and sedation related to 5-HT and/or GABA neurotransmission. The GABA antagonist picrotoxin and the 5-HT2 antagonist ritanserin were used to examine the role of GABA and 5-HT2 receptors in psychollatine-induced effects. In the light/dark and hole-board models of anxiety, diazepam (0.75 mg/kg) and psychollatine (7.5 and 15 mg/kg) showed anxiolytic-like effect at doses that do not increase sleeping time nor alter spontaneous locomotor activity. The anxiolytic effect of psychollatine was prevented by prior administration of ritanserin, but not of picrotoxin, indicating that 5-HT2 but not GABA receptors are implicated. In the forced swimming model of depression, psychollatine (3 and 7.5 mg/kg) effects were comparable to the antidepressants imipramine (15 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg). Psychollatine suppressed oxotremorine-induced tremors in all doses. In the step-down learning paradigm, diazepam (0.85 mg/kg), MK-801 (0.15 mg/kg), and psychollatine 100 mg/kg impaired the acquisition of learning and memory consolidation, without interfering with retrieval. It is concluded that the effects of psychollatine at the central nervous system involve serotonergic 5HT2(A/C) receptors.
authors.affiliation: Curso de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Both
authors.forename: Lisiane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meneghini
authors.forename: Vitor A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Kerber
authors.forename: Amélia T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elisabetsky
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001938:Brazil; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D026121:Indole Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008954:Models, Biological; D015394:Molecular Structure; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011600:Psychopharmacology; D032069:Psychotria / Q000737:chemistry*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006027:Glycosides; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D039821:Monoterpenes; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C499739:psychollatine; D003975:Diazepam