title: Involvement of monoaminergic systems in anxiolytic and antidepressive activities of the standardized extract of Cocos nucifera L.
abstract: Extracts from the husk fiber of Cocos nucifera are used in folk medicine, but their actions on the central nervous system have not been studied. Here, the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of the standardized hydroalcoholic extract of C. nucifera husk fiber (HECN) were evaluated. Male Swiss mice were treated with HECN (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) 60 min before experiments involving the plus maze test, hole-board test, tail suspension test, and forced swimming test (FST). HECN was administered orally (p.o.) in acute and repeated-dose treatments. The forced swimming test was performed with dopaminergic and noradrenergic antagonists, as well as a serotonin release inhibitor. Administration of HECN in the FST after intraperitoneal (i.p.) pretreatment of mice with sulpiride (50 mg/kg), prazosin (1 mg/kg), or p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 100 mg/kg) caused the actions of these three agents to be reversed. However, this effect was not observed after pretreating the animals with SCH23390 (15 µg/kg, i.p.) or yohimbine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) The dose chosen for HECN was 100 mg/kg, p.o., which increased the number of entries as well as the permanence in the open arms of the maze after acute and repeated doses. In both the forced swimming and the tail suspension tests, the same dose decreased the time spent immobile but did not disturb locomotor activity in an open-field test. The anxiolytic effect of HECN appears to be related to the GABAergic system, while its antidepressant effect depends upon its interaction with the serotoninergic, noradrenergic (α1 receptors), and dopaminergic (D2 dopamine receptors) systems.
authors: Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo Street, 1127, Fortaleza, CE, CEP: 60431-270, Brazil.
authors: Eliane Brito Cortez
authors: EBC
authors: Lima
authors: Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo Street, 1127, Fortaleza, CE, CEP: 60431-270, Brazil.
authors: Caren Nádia Soares
authors: CNS
authors: de Sousa
authors: Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo Street, 1127, Fortaleza, CE, CEP: 60431-270, Brazil.
authors: Lucas Nascimento
authors: LN
authors: Meneses
authors: Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo Street, 1127, Fortaleza, CE, CEP: 60431-270, Brazil.
authors: Yuri Freitas
authors: YF
authors: E Silva Pereira
authors: Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo Street, 1127, Fortaleza, CE, CEP: 60431-270, Brazil.
authors: Natália Castelo Branco
authors: NCB
authors: Matos
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ceará, Capitão Francisco Pedro Street, 1210, Fortaleza, CE, CEP: 60430-170, Brazil.
authors: Rayanne Brito
authors: RB
authors: de Freitas
authors: Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University Center Christus-Unichristus, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Nycole Brito Cortez
authors: NBC
authors: Lima
authors: Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University Center Christus-Unichristus, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Manoel Cláudio Azevedo
authors: MCA
authors: Patrocínio
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ceará, Capitão Francisco Pedro Street, 1210, Fortaleza, CE, CEP: 60430-170, Brazil.
authors: Luzia Kalyne Almeida Moreira
authors: LKAM
authors: Leal
authors: Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo Street, 1127, Fortaleza, CE, CEP: 60431-270, Brazil.
authors: Glauce Socorro Barros
authors: GSB
authors: Viana
authors: Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Cel. Nunes de Melo Street, 1127, Fortaleza, CE, CEP: 60431-270, Brazil. silvania_vasconcelos@yahoo.com.br.
authors: Silvânia Maria Mendes
authors: SMM
authors: Vasconcelos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003059:Cocos / Q000737:chemistry*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D019417:Hindlimb Suspension / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antidepressive; Anxiolytic; C. nucifera L.; Hydroalcoholic extract of C. nucifera husk fiber