title: Piplartine, an amide alkaloid from Piper tuberculatum, presents anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in mice.
abstract: In the present work, we studied the effects of piplartine (PIP), an amide alkaloid isolated from the roots of Piper tuberculatum (Piperaceae), in the elevated plus maze, open field, rota rod, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures, and forced swimming tests, in mice (Swiss, male, 25 g) to assess anxiolytic, sedative, muscle relaxant, anticonvulsant and antidepressant effects, respectively. Results showed that PIP (50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.), similarly to diazepam, significantly increased not only the number of entrances (100% and 66%, respectively) but also the time of permanence in the open arms (104% and 199%, respectively), indicating that PIP presents an anxiolytic activity. Both effects were completely blocked by the previous administration of flumazenil what suggests the involvement of benzodiazepine type receptors. In the open field test, although PIP did not alter the number of crossings, it significantly increased grooming (103% and 119%) and rearing (60% and 23%), at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg respectively, as compared to controls. However, in the rota rod test, PIP was devoid of effect. Although in the PTZ-induced convulsion test, PIP did not alter the latency time for the onset of the first convulsion, as compared to controls, it significantly reduced in 58% and 60%, respectively, the animal's latency time to death. Furthermore, a significant and dose-dependent decrease in the immobility time, as evaluated by the forced swimming test, was observed after PIP administration (41% and 75% decrease, at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively), suggesting an antidepressant effect, similarly to that observed with imipramine, a classical antidepressant drug used as standard. In conclusion, we showed that PIP presents significant anxiolytic and antidepressant activities, making this drug potentially useful in anxiety and depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysiology, Faculty of Medicine of Juazeiro do Norte, Department of Organic Chemistry of the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil. Osorio@roadnet.com.br
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cícero Bezerra Felipe
authors.forename: Jucélio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trajano Sousa Filho
authors.forename: Louise Emanuele
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Souza
authors.forename: Jefferson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alexandre Silveira
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Esdras de Andrade Uchoa
authors.forename: Edilberto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rocha Silveira
authors.forename: Otília
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Deusdênia Loiola Pessoa
authors.forename: Glauce S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: de Barros Viana
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D008517:Phytotherapy; D031701:Piper; D010881:Piperidones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010881:Piperidones; D010936:Plant Extracts; C498077:piperlongumine; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole