title: Antidepressant properties of aqueous macerate from Gladiolus dalenii corms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gladiolus dalenii Van Geel (Iridaceae) has been used for the treatment of depression and psychotic disorders in African traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the aqueous extract from the corm of Gladiolus dalenii and its possible mechanisms of action.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the antidepressant properties of G. dalenii corm aqueous extract in mice, using the open field, forced swimming, and tail suspension tests. Spontaneous locomotor activity of mice given various doses of G. dalenii extract (per os) was determined in the open field, whereas immobility was evaluated in the other two tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Extract maximal effect was observed at 15 mg/kg, as mice displayed a marked reduction in immobility time in both the forced swimming test (80%) and the tail suspension test (66%). In further studies aimed at investigating the mechanism of action of G. dalenii extract, the latter significantly antagonized the effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, 75 mg/kg) at both the doses 15 mg/kg (p<0.001) and 150 mg/kg (p=0.004). A significant reduction in immobility time was also observed following treatment with combinations of a sub-effective dose of extract (7.5 mg/kg) with either the NMDA receptor antagonist D-(-)-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (D-AP7, 50 mg/kg, P< 0.001), the serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (5 and 10 mg/kg, P< 0.001 and P< 0.001 respectively), and the multi-target antidepressant imipramine (5 and 10 mg/kg, P< 0.001 and P< 0.001 respectively). Moreover, neither G. dalenii extract alone nor its combinations with NMDA ligands imipramine and fluoxetine enhanced mouse spontaneous locomotor activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Altogether, these results suggest that G. dalenii has antidepressant properties, probably mediated through interactions with NMDA, serotonin and/ or noradrenergic systems, and may justify its use in traditional medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon ; Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Gwladys Temkou
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Ngoupaye
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Elisabeth Ngo
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Bum
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, Cameroon ; Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Germain Sotoing
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Taiwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Fleur Clarisse Okomolo
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Moto
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63 Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Talla
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D027621:Iridaceae; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; D007099:Imipramine; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; C031231:2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid
keywords: Gladiolus dalenii; depression; forced swimming test; open field test; tail suspension test; therapy