title: Antidepressant-like effects of an alkaloid extract of the aerial parts of Annona cherimolia in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several species of Annona (Annonaceae) are used in traditional Mexican medicine by their anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant and tranquilizing properties. It has been reported that the alkaloids isolated from some species of the Annona have affinity to serotonergic 5-HT(1A) receptors and modulate dopaminergic transmission, which is involved in depressive disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the antidepressant-like effect of an alkaloid extract from the aerial parts of Annona cherimola (TA) in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antidepressant-like effect was evaluated in the forced swimming test. To elucidate a possible mechanism of action, experiments of synergism with antidepressant drugs, such as imipramine (IMI), clomipramine (CLIMI), and fluoxetine (FLX), were carried out. The neurotransmitter content (DA: dopamine, 5HT: serotonin and its metabolites, HVA: homovanillic acid and 5HIAA: 5-hydroxyindoleacetic) in the whole brain of mice were also determined by HPLC method. TA chemical composition was determined using high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that repeated treatment with TA produced antidepressant-like effects in mice. This effect was not related to an increase in locomotor activity. Administration of TA facilitated the antidepressant effect of IMI and CLIMI as well as increased the turnover of DA and 5-HT. The alkaloids: 1,2-dimethoxy-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzoquinoline-3,8,9,10-tetraol, anonaine, liriodenine, and nornuciferine were the main constituents of TA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results showed that TA produces an antidepressant-like action from a generalized increase in monominergic turnover, supporting the use in tradicional medicine of Annona cherimolia, and strongly suggest its therapeutic potency as an antidepressant agent.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, México, D.F. 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez-Vázquez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Estrada-Reyes
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Araujo Escalona
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ledesma Velázquez
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martínez-Mota
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heinze
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D031041:Annona / Q000737:chemistry; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008800:Mexico; D051379:Mice; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005473:Fluoxetine; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D002997:Clomipramine; D007099:Imipramine; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid