title: Anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of an aqueous extract of Tanacetum parthenium L. Schultz-Bip (Asteraceae) in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tanacetum parthenium L. Schultz-Bip (Asteraceae) is widely used worldwide in traditional medicine for the treatment of convulsions and culture-bound syndromes such as susto (fear). The aim of this work was to evaluate the anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of an aqueous extract of T. parthenium in behavioral paradigms in mice. The effects of T. parthenium were compared with those produced by anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs. We carried out the chemical characterization of the main constituents of T. parthenium. The involvement with the GABAergic and serotoninergic neurotransmitter systems were explored be means of synergic and antagonist experiments.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anxiolytic-like effect was evaluated using the Burying Behavior Test (BBT) and the Elevated Plus-Maze Test (PMT). The antidepressant-like effect was evaluated in the Forced Swimming Test (FST), and ambulatory activity was assessed in the Open Field Test (OFT). Employing the behavioral tests, synergism and antagonism experiments with Alprazolam, Muscimol, and Picrotoxin were carried out in the PMT. In a series of independent experiments, concomitant administration of T. parthenium and Alprazolam, Fluoxetine, or p-chlorophenylalanine were conducted in the FST. For chemical characterization, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electro Spray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  T. parthenium exerts clear anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in mice, without affecting the ambulatory activity of the experimental subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like T. parthenium effects result, at least part from the involvement of the GABAergic system. Our results support the use of Tanacetum parthenium in traditional medicine and suggest its therapeutic potential in the comorbid anxiety and depression.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Coyoacán, 04510 Ciudad de México (CDMX), México.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cárdenas
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Coyoacán, 04510 Ciudad de México (CDMX), México; Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM), Toluca, Estado de México, México; Laboratorio de Fitofarmacología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (INPRFM), Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Del. Tlalpan, 14370 CDMX, México.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reyes-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM), Toluca, Estado de México, México.
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hernández-Navarro
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fitofarmacología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (INPRFM), Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Del. Tlalpan, 14370 CDMX, México.
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dorantes-Barrón
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioelectrónica, Dirección de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (INPRFM), Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Del. Tlalpan, 14370 CDMX, México.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almazán
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fitofarmacología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (INPRFM), Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, Col. San Lorenzo Huipulco, Del. Tlalpan, 14370 CDMX, México. Electronic address: estrarosa@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Estrada-Reyes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019659:Asteraceae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D020903:Tanacetum parthenium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Alprazolam (PubChem CID: 2118); Antidepressant; Anxiety; Diazepam (PubChem CID: 3016); Fluoxetine (PubChem CID: 62857); GABAergic system; Muscimol (PubChem CID: 4266); Picrotoxin (PubChem CID: 518601); Tanacetum parthenium; p-chlorophenylalanine (PubChem CID: 2733277)