Hypericum caprifoliatum (Guttiferae) Cham. & Schltdl.: a species native to South Brazil with antidepressant-like activity.
In this work, previously published and unpublished results on biological activity of Hypericum caprifoliatum, a native species to South Brazil, are presented. Lipophilic extracts obtained from this species showed an antidepressant-like activity in mice and rat forced swimming test. Results from in vivo experiments suggest an effect on the dopaminergic transmission. Besides that, in vitro experiments demonstrated that the extract and its main component (a phloroglucinol derivative) inhibit monoamine uptake in a concentration-dependent manner, more potently to dopamine, but this effect is not related to direct binding at the uptake sites. It was also observed that a 3-day treatment with lipophilic extract prevents stress-induced corticosterone rise in mice frontal cortex but not in plasma. The lipophilic and methanolic H. caprifoliatum extracts also demonstrated antinociceptive effect, which seems to be indirectly mediated by the opioid system. These results indicate that H. caprifoliatum presents a promising antidepressant-like effect in rodents which seems to be related to a mechanism different from that of other classes of antidepressants.
Viana
Alice F
AF
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Av. Ipiranga, 2752 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
do Rego
Jean-Claude
JC
Munari
Leonardo
L
Dourmap
Nathalie
N
Heckler
Ana Paula
AP
Costa
Teresa Dalla
TD
von Poser
Gilsane L
GL
Costentin
Jean
J
Rates
Stela M K
SM
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D001938:Brazil; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D020902:Hypericum / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012377:Rodentia; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts