Protopine inhibits serotonin transporter and noradrenaline transporter and has the antidepressant-like effect in mice models.
The protopine isolated from a Chinese herb Dactylicapnos scandens Hutch was identified as an inhibitor of both serotonin transporter and noradrenaline transporter in vitro assays. 5-hydroxy-DL-tryptophan(5-HTP)-induced head twitch response (HTR) and tail suspension test were adopted to study whether protopine has anti-depression effect in mice using reference antidepressant fluoxetine and desipramine as positive controls. In HTR test, protopine at doses of 5, 10, 20 mg/kg dose dependently increase the number of 5-HTP-induced HTR. Protopine at doses of 3.75 mg/kg, 7.5 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg also produces a dose-dependent reduction in immobility in the tail suspension test. The present results open up new possibilities for the use of protopine in the treatment of mood disorders, such as mild and moderate states of depression.
Xu
Lin-Feng
LF
Shanghai Celstar Institute of Biotechnology, 1 Ju Li Road, Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China.
Chu
Wen-Jing
WJ
Qing
Xiao-Yun
XY
Li
Sheng
S
Wang
Xue-Song
XS
Qing
Guo-Wei
GW
Fei
Jian
J
Guo
Li-He
LH
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019416:Head Movements / Q000187:drug effects; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension / Q000379:methods; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D050484:Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids; D050484:Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C022616:thiazolyl blue; C009093:protopine