title: Antidepressant-like effects of methanol extract of Hibiscus tiliaceus flowers in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hibiscus tiliaceus L. (Malvaceae) is used in postpartum disorders. Our purpose was to examine the antidepressant, anxiolytic and sedative actions of the methanol extract of H. tiliaceus flowers using animal models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male Swiss albino mice were treated with saline, standard drugs or methanol extract of H. tiliaceus and then subjected to behavioral tests. The forced swimming and tail suspension tests were used as predictive animal models of antidepressant activity, where the time of immobility was considered. The animals were submitted to the elevated plus-maze and ketamine-induced sleeping time to assess anxiolytic and sedative activities, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Methanol extract of H. tiliaceus significantly decreased the duration of immobility in both animal models of antidepressant activity, forced swimming and tail suspension tests. This extract did not potentiate the effect of ketamine-induced hypnosis, as determined by the time to onset and duration of sleeping time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate an antidepressant-like profile of action for the extract of Hibiscus tiliaceus without sedative side effect.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Centro Universitário UNIVATES, Rua Avelino Tallini, 171, Bairro Universitário, CEP 95900-000, Lajeado, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vanzella
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bianchetti
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sbaraini
authors.forename: Samanta Inês
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Vanzin
authors.forename: Maria Inês Soares
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Melecchi
authors.forename: Elina Bastos
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Caramão
authors.forename: Ionara Rodrigues
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Siqueira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D031584:Hibiscus; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D007649:Ketamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007649:Ketamine