title: Antidepressant-Like Effect of the Leaves of Pseudospondias microcarpa in Mice: Evidence for the Involvement of the Serotoninergic System, NMDA Receptor Complex, and Nitric Oxide Pathway.
abstract: Depression continues to be a major global health problem. Although antidepressants are used for its treatment, efficacy is often inconsistent. Thus, the search for alternative therapeutic medicines for its treatment is still important. In this study, the antidepressant-like effect of Pseudospondias microcarpa extract (30-300 mg kg(-1), p.o.) was investigated in two predictive models of depression--forced swimming test and tail suspension test in mice. Additionally, the mechanism(s) of action involved were assessed. Acute treatment with the extract dose dependently reduced immobility of mice in both models. The antidepressant-like effect of the extract (100 mg kg(-1), p.o.) was blocked by p-chlorophenylalanine and cyproheptadine but not prazosin, propranolol, or yohimbine. Concomitant administration of D-cycloserine and the extract potentiated the anti-immobility effect. In contrast, D-serine, a full agonist of glycine/NMDA receptors, abolished the effects. Anti-immobility effects of PME were prevented by pretreatment of mice with L-arginine (750 mg kg(-1), i.p.) and sildenafil (5 mg kg(-1), i.p.). On the contrary, pretreatment of mice with L-NAME (30 mg kg(-1), i.p.) or methylene blue (10 mg kg(-1), i.p.) potentiated its effects. The extract produces an antidepressant-like effect in the FST and TST that is dependent on the serotoninergic system, NMDA receptor complex, and the nitric oxide pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Donatus Wewura
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Adongo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Kennedy Kwami Edem
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Kukuia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Priscilla Kolibea
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mante
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, School of Biological Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
authors.forename: Elvis Ofori
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Ameyaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Woode
mesh_terms: D027926:Anacardiaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D003523:Cycloserine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D059326:Serotonergic Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003523:Cycloserine