LC/QTOF profile and preliminary stability studies of an enriched flavonoid fraction of Cecropia pachystachya Trécul leaves with potential antidepressant‐like activity

Abstract

There is increasing interest in natural antioxidants that are candidates for the prevention of brain damage occurring in major depressive disorders. Cecropia pachystachya is a tropical tree species of Central and South America and a rich source of polyphenols, particularly flavonoids. The aim of this study was to characterize the flavonoid profile of an enriched flavonoid fraction of C. pachystachya (EFF-Cp) and evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of its acute administration in behavior, cytokine levels, oxidative stress and energy metabolism parameters. The EFF-Cp chemical characterization was performed by HPLC/DAD and LC/QTOF. The antidepressant-like effects were performed by the forced swimming test, splash test and open field test. EFF-Cp revealed 15 flavonoids, including seven new glycosyl flavonoids for C. pachystachya. Quantitatively, EFF-Cp showed isoorientin (43.46 mg/g), orientin (23.42 mg/g) and isovitexin (17.45 mg/g) as major C-glycosyl flavonoids. In addition, EFF-Cp at doses 50 and 100 mg/kg reduced the immobility time in the forced swimming test, without changing the locomotor activity and grooming time. In addition, EFF-Cp was able to prevent the oxidative damage in some brain areas. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that EFF-Cp exerts antidepressant-like effects with its antioxidant properties.

Extraction of Cecropia Pachystachya Leaves by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide: Kinetics, Phytochemical Characterization, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities

“…Phytochemical surveys already indicated the presence of several groups of flavonoids, tannins (Souza et al, 2014;Ortmann et al, 2016;Ortmann et al, 2017), and catechins (Costa et al, 2011;Cruz et al, 2013). High-performance liquid chromatographic analyses allowed the identification of the flavonoids C-glycosides including isoorientin, isovitexin, orientin, vitexin, and rutin (Costa et al, 2011;Brango-Vanegas et al, 2014), and chlorogenic acid (Brango-Vanegas et al, 2014).…”

Differentiation of the phenolic chemical profiles ofCecropia pachystachyaandCecropia hololeuca

“…These studies have indicated a phenolic‐rich profile, which includes C ‐glycosylated flavonoids, such as orientin, isoorientin, vitexin and isovitexin, in addition to chlorogenic acid. These constituents have been related to biological properties, such as anti‐inflammatory, leishmanicidal, and hypoglycemic activities, among others . Cecropia hololeuca possesses silver leaves, and because of this, is popularly known in Brazil as silver embaúba .…”

Antidepressant Flavonoids and Their Relationship with Oxidative Stress

“…The neuroprotective mechanisms of antidepressant effects remain to stay vague, in spite of the fact that it is proposed that flavonoids generally exert their antidepressant-like effects via altering behavior, cytokine levels, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism parameters. In addition to antioxidative action, each flavonoid follows its idiocratical one or more different pathways from these general routes against advancement and progression of depression including prevention of mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation, agonizing GABA-benzodiazepine receptors interaction with κ -opioid receptors and kynurenine pathway (KP), acetylcholinesterase activity regulation, helping to maintain brain plasticity, inhibition of L-arginine-NO, extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) 1/2 and AKT phosphorylation pathways, modulation of intracellular calcium overload and K + channels, downregulation of Bax, caspases 3 and 9, and cytochrome C (Cyt-C) protein expression, and upregulation of Bcl protein expression were also afforded to positive impacts of flavonoids in the treatment depression [ 108 – 112 ].…”