title: Alstonine as an antipsychotic: effects on brain amines and metabolic changes.
abstract: Managing schizophrenia has never been a trivial matter. Furthermore, while classical antipsychotics induce extrapyramidal side effects and hyperprolactinaemia, atypical antipsychotics lead to diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, and weight gain. Moreover, even with newer drugs, a sizable proportion of patients do not show significant improvement. Alstonine is an indole alkaloid identified as the major component of a plant-based remedy used in Nigeria to treat the mentally ill. Alstonine presents a clear antipsychotic profile in rodents, apparently with differential effects in distinct dopaminergic pathways. The aim of this study was to complement the antipsychotic profile of alstonine, verifying its effects on brain amines in mouse frontal cortex and striatum. Additionally, we examined if alstonine induces some hormonal and metabolic changes common to antipsychotics. HPLC data reveal that alstonine increases serotonergic transmission and increases intraneuronal dopamine catabolism. In relation to possible side effects, preliminary data suggest that alstonine does not affect prolactin levels, does not induce gains in body weight, but prevents the expected fasting-induced decrease in glucose levels. Overall, this study reinforces the proposal that alstonine is a potential innovative antipsychotic, and that a comprehensive understanding of its neurochemical basis may open new avenues to developing newer antipsychotic medications.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Etnofamacologia, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite 500/202, 90050-170 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Viviane M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Linck
authors.forename: Ana P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Angelo L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Piato
authors.forename: Bernardo C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Detanico
authors.forename: Micheli
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Figueiró
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flório
authors.forename: Maurice M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Iwu
authors.forename: Christopher O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Okunji
authors.forename: Mirna B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elisabetsky