title: Preclinical evaluation of Trichilia catigua extracts on the central nervous system of mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trichilia catigua preparations have been popularly used in Brazil as a tonic for the treatment of fatigue, stress, impotence, and deficiency of memory. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible antidepressant, anxiolytic, motor and cognitive effects of the crude extract (CE) or ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) of Trichilia catigua. Analyses of the total phenolics and total tannins content, as well as the in vitro antioxidant activity of CE and EAF were also performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  CE (200-800 mg/kg) and EAF (100-400mg/kg) were orally administered to mice and 1h later the behavioral tests were performed. The free radical scavenging activity was measured by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Single administration of CE (200-400 mg/kg) or EAF (100-400 mg/kg) did not change the behavior of the animals submitted to the elevated plus maze or their locomotor activity in the open field test. An antidepressant-like effect was detected with EAF (400 mg/kg) after acute administration. Both CE (800 mg/kg) and EAF (200 and 400 mg/kg), improve memory in mice as measured by an increased latency in the step-down inhibitory avoidance test. The EAF presented higher total phenolics and total tannins as compared to CE as well as it exhibited the best antioxidant activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results showed an in vitro antioxidant activity for EAF and suggested that it may be useful for cognitive improvement. It is possible that both functional and chemical activities are related.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, State University of Maringá, Av Colombo n 5790, 87020-900 Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Janaine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chassot
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Longhini
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gazarini
authors.forename: João Carlos P
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: Rúbia Maria Weffort
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D029582:Meliaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013634:Tannins / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010636:Phenols; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013634:Tannins; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl