Central Nervous System Activities of Hypericum origanifolium Extract via GABAergic and Opioidergic Mechanisms

Abstract

Pharmacological effects of hydroalcoholic extract prepared from Hypericum origanifolium Willd. (Guttiferae) on behavioral parameters and pain perceptions of mice were investigated in this study. Depression, anxiety, spontaneous locomotor activity, and motor coordination parameters of mice were assessed by modified forced swimming, hole board, activity cage, and rota-rod tests, respectively. In addition, antinociceptive effect was evaluated by performing hot-plate, tail-clip, and formalin tests. Reboxetine (20 mg/kg), diazepam (1 mg/kg), and morphine (10 mg/kg) were used as reference antidepressant, anxiolytic, and analgesic drugs, respectively. Phytochemical analyses exhibited that chlorogenic acid (2317.12 ppm) and rutin (2108.79 ppm) were the main phenolic compounds in the H. origanifolium extract. The extract (50, 100, and 250 mg/kg) induced significant antidepressant, anxiolytic, and antinociceptive activities following the acute administrations. Anxiolytic effect was antagonized by flumazenil (a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, 2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) pre-treatment, which indicated the participation of GABA(A)-benzodiazepine receptor complex in the activity. Moreover, centrally and peripherally mediated antinociception reversed by naloxone (a non-selective opioid receptor antagonist, 5 mg/kg, i.p.) pre-treatment, indicating the involvement of opioid system in the pharmacological action. These findings are the first to indicate the pharmacological effects of the H. origanifolium extract on the emotional state and pain perceptions of mice.

Heteropterys cotinifolia: A Neuropharmacological and Phytochemical Approach with Possible Taxonomic Implications

“…Our findings are in accordance with reports on chlorogenic acid and rutin as the main components of extracts widely recognized as antidepressants such as Hypericum extracts [19–21]. Moreover, in the case of Hypericum origanifolium , these two components are also the main compounds found in the crude extract, even over hypericin and hyperforin, the compounds described by far as the responsible for the antidepressant properties of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) [22]. …”

Safety assessment and behavioral effects of Solanum guaraniticum leaf extract in rats

“…The reduction in the number of rearings and crossings may suggest that S. guaraniticum caused alterations in the activity of the central nervous system (Morais, Barbosa-Filho, Almeida, 1998;Mora et al, 2005;Yasar et al, 2012). Further, it is interesting to note that the behavioral effects were more pronounced 48 h after treatment, and the behavior of the rats was similar to the controls at day 14 after treatment.…”

Antinociceptive and hypoglycaemic evaluation of Conyza filaginoides (D.C.) Hieron Asteraceae

“…In this regard, it is important to point out that Fernandez et al . demonstrated that rutin interacted with GABA A receptors in behavioural studies [32–35]. Therefore GABAergic modulation could be a promising target of rutin for alleviating pain.…”