Chemical Constituents and Antidepressant-Like Effects in Ovariectomized Mice of the Ethanol Extract of Alternanthera philoxeroides

Abstract

The previously unreported flavone glycoside, demethyltorosaflavone B (2) and the E-propenoic acid substituted flavone, torosaflavone E (3a), were isolated together with nine previously reported metabolites, including indole-3-carbaldehyde, oleanonic acid, vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, altheranthin (1a), alternanthin B (1b), demethyltorosaflavone D (3b), luteolin 8-C-E-propenoic acid (4) and chrysoeriol 7-O-rhamnoside (5), from the ethanol extract of the aerial part of Althernanthera philoxeroides. The crude ethanol extract was evaluated for its in vitro estrogenic activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The crude ethanol extract was also investigated in vivo for its antidepressant-like effects on ovariectomized mice using tail suspension and forced swimming tests, while its effect on the locomotor activity was evaluated by a Y-maze test. The effect of the crude extract on the serum corticosterone level, size and volume of uterus of the ovariectomized mice were also investigated. The expression of the mouse cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and β-actin mRNAs in hippocampus and frontal cortex was also evaluated, using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The crude extract and the isolated compounds 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b and 5, were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on monoamine oxidases (MAOs)-A and -B.

Effects of Puerarin on the Ovariectomy-Induced Depressive-Like Behavior in ICR Mice and Its Possible Mechanism of Action

“…Mice were placed in the testing room for 1 h prior to the behavioral test for habituation. The order of the behavioral tests was as follow: Y-maze test (day 45), FST (pre-swimming on day 47-48, test session on day [48][49], and TST (day 51-52). One day after completion of the behavioral tests, the mice were decapitated.…”

“…The TST was developed as a rodent screening test for potential (human) antidepressant drugs. This test was conducted as previously described [49]. Briefly, 1 h after the administration of drugs, each mouse was individually suspended 50 cm above the floor by adhesive tape placed approximately 1 cm from the tip of the tail.…”

“…The supernatant was collected and frozen at -80 • C, until used. Assay Max Corticosterone ELISA kit (Assaypro LLC, St. Charles, MO, USA) was employed to measure the serum corticosterone levels according to the previously described procedure [49]. The serum sample (25 µL) was added in 96-well microplates of ELISA kit.…”

Effects of the Ethanol Extract of Dipterocarpus alatus Leaf on the Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress-Induced Depression in ICR Mice and Its Possible Mechanism of Action

“…The Y-maze consisted of three equal arms 40 cm long, 18 cm high, 3 cm wide at the bottom, and 12 cm wide at the top, which were positioned at equal angles as Y-shape. One hour after drug administration, the mice were individually placed on one arm, and the total arm entries were recorded manually over 8 min-period for measuring the locomotion activity [41].…”

“…The blood was left overnight at room temperature and centrifuged at 3000 rpm at 21 °C for 20 min. Assay Max Corticosterone ELISA kit (Assaypro LLC, St. Charles, MO, USA) was used to determine the serum corticosterone level according to the previously described procedure [41]. The serum sample (25 µL) was added in 96-well microplates of ELISA kit and immediately added 25 µL of biotinylated protein to each well.…”