title: Serotonergic mechanisms are involved in antidepressant-like effects of bisbenzylisoquinolines liensinine and its analogs isolated from the embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner seeds in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We attempted to ascertain if bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, liensinine and isoliensinine from Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner have antidepressant-like effects and compare the effects with those previously obtained by their analogue neferine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using mice, the forced swimming test (FST) was carried out after treatment with liensinine, isoliensinine and neferine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liensinine and isoliensinine elicited antidepressant-like effects in mice after the FST. Anti-immobility effects of liensinine and isoliensinine were antagonized by the 5-hydroxytryptamine1 A (5-HT1 A ) receptor antagonist WAY 100635, but not by the α1 -adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin. The anti-immobility effects of liensinine, isoliensinine and neferine were blocked by pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), which depletes serotonin (5-HT).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that liensinine and isoliensinine from Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner have antidepressant-like effects and that antidepressant-like effects of liensinine and its analogues are closely related to serotonergic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yasuda Women's University, Hiroshima, Japan.|Department of Organic Chemistry, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanahashi
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Industry Innovation, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.affiliation: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oshiro
authors.affiliation: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shujian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Yokohama College of Pharmacy, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Yokohama College of Pharmacy, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D031653:Nelumbo / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000196:embryology; D010636:Phenols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012639:Seeds; D059326:Serotonergic Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D007546:Isoquinolines; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018490:Serotonin Agents; C499779:isoliensinine; C057222:neferine; C080095:liensinine
keywords: Liensinine; Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner; antidepressant-like effects; isoliensinine; neferine