Volume 82, April 2016, Pages 29–36
Highlights
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- Our study suggests the antidepressant activity of Hypericum foliosum extract.
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- This activity was less pronounced in H. androsaemum and H. perforatum extracts.
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- Chemical profile of the methanol extract of H. foliosum is studied.
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- We identify some major compounds in H. foliosum methanol fraction.
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- The mentioned compounds are not the only responsible for the antidepressant activity.
Abstract
The aerial part of Hypericum foliosum showed similar major classes of constituents to Hypericum perforatum. However, H. foliosum belongs to Androsaemum section, as Hypericum androsaemum, characterized by absence of hypericins. To compare the in vivo
antidepressant activity of methanol extracts from aerial part of these
three species, based on fact of methanol extracts were the most used on
antidepressant H. perforatum medicines. FST and TST in mice were used. H. foliosum active extract was fractionated and the antidepressant activity of the fractions was evaluated. Additionally, in vivochronic toxicity of this extract was determined. H. foliosum
extract (500 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a significant reduction of the
immobility time in TST. Concerning the tendency to decrease this
immobility time with H. androsaemum and H. perforatum,
no statistically significant differences were observed between both
extracts mentioned and the control groups. Using FST no immobility time
reduction was observed by administration of the different extracts. H. foliosum fractions showed also to be inactive at a dose of 250 mg/kg, p.o. in both tests. H. foliosum
extract (1000 mg/kg) had no significant toxicity for liver, kidney or
pancreas. Quinic acid, 3,4-dimethylbenzoic acid, (+) catechin,
chlorogenic acid, quercetin-3-O-sulphate, miquelianin, xanthone and amentoflavone were identified as marker compounds of H. foliosum
extract and methanol fraction. Phloroglucinol derivatives were detected
in the diethylether fraction of this active extract. This study
provides the first evidence indicating that the extract of H. foliosum has an antidepressant effect in a predictive animal model of antidepressant properties, the TST.
Graphical abstract
Abbreviations
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase;
- AST, aspartate aminotransferase;
- Ctr, control group;
- DMSO, dimetil sulphoxide;
- FLU, fluoxetine;
- FST, forced swimming test;
- GABA, gamma-aminobutyric acid;
- Ha, Hypericum androsaemum extract;
- Hf, Hypericum foliosum extract;
- Hf1, Hypericum foliosum diethyl ether fraction;
- Hf2, Hypericum foliosum methanol fraction;
- Hp, Hypericum perforatum extract;
- I, intensity;
- IMI, imipramine;
- LC–UV/DAD, high performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultra violet photodiode array;
- MeCN, acetonitrile;
- MeOH, methanol;
- PEG200, polyethylene glycol 200;
- R, tretention time;
- SEM, standard error of the mean;
- SSRI, sselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors;
- TCA, stricyclic antidepressants;
- TFA, trifluoroacetic acid;
- Ti, total duration of immobility;
- TST, tail suspension test
Keywords
- Antidepressant activity;
- Chemical composition;
- Forced swimming test;
- Hypericum androsaemum;
- Hypericum foliosum;
- Tail suspension test
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