title: Effect of ethanolic extract of Rubia peregrina L. (Rubiaceae) on monoamine-mediated behaviour.
abstract: In the traditional system of medicine in Sardinia, Rubia peregrina (RP) is reported as an aphrodisiac herb. Since aphrodisiacs may also have dopaminergic activity, and there can be a reciprocal relationship between dopaminergic and serotonergic functions in the central nervous system, the aim here was to study the effect of the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of R. peregrina on monoamine-mediated behaviour. The RP (100 and 200 mg kg(-1) intraperitoneally) significantly inhibited haloperidol (1 mg kg(-1) i.p.) induced catalepsy in mice (p < 0.01, dopamine-mediated response) lithium sulphate induced head twitches in rats (serotonin-mediated response) and was without effect on clonidine-induced hypothermia in rats (noradrenaline-mediated response). The study concludes that R. peregrina improves the dopaminergic function, diminishes the serotonin-mediated function and is devoid of any effect on the noradrenergic function. The study suggests that we should carry out further experiments to investigate the psychopharmacological profile of R. peregrina.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, MGV's Pharmacy College, Panchavati, Nashik 422003, India.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasture
authors.forename: Anupama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pawar
authors.forename: Ameya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasture
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foddis
authors.forename: Maria Assunta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Frau
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maxia
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000188:drug therapy; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020820:Dyskinesias / Q000188:drug therapy; D006220:Haloperidol; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011600:Psychopharmacology; D051381:Rats; D045470:Rubia / Q000737:chemistry*; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013431:Sulfates
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D013431:Sulfates; C054097:lithium sulfate; D006220:Haloperidol