Chemical constituents and antidepressant activity of the new species Hypericum enshiense occurring in China.
Hypericum enshiense L. H. Wu et F. S. Wang is a new species of Hypericum occurring in China, which was first identified and denominated by our laboratory. No research has been reported on the antidepressant activity and chemical constituents of this new species. In this study, the qualitative and quantitative analyses of the chemical constituents in the hydroalcoholic extract of this species were performed using HPLC/DAD/ESI-MS online method. Hypericin, pseudohypericin and some flavonoids were identified or tentatively identified. Furthermore, H. enshiense had a high content of hypericins than H. perforatum. In addition, the antidepressant activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the species was investigated using forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). The extract significantly shortened the immobility time in FST and TST, while did not alter the locomoter activity of mice. These results suggested for the first time that the hydroalcoholic extract of H. enshiense might possess potential antidepressant-like activity in the animal behavioral models, and this species might act as a new potential resource for developing antidepressants to treat depressive disorders.
Wang
Dongmei
D
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Bai
Jie
J
Sun
Feng
F
Yang
Depo
D
D000818:Animals; D000873:Anthracenes; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002681:China; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension / Q000523:psychology; D020902:Hypericum / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010569:Perylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013550:Swimming / Q000523:psychology
D000873:Anthracenes; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010569:Perylene; C004965:hypericin