Antidepressant-like effect of hyperfoliatin, a polyisoprenylated phloroglucinol derivative from Hypericum perfoliatum (Clusiaceae) is associated with an inhibition of neuronal monoamines uptake

• Published in: European journal of pharmacology 2007-08, Vol.569 (3), p.197-203
• Main Authors: do Rego, Jean-Claude, Benkiki, Naïma, Chosson, Elizabeth, Kabouche, Zahia, Seguin, Elisabeth, Costentin, Jean
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antidepressant drug; Antidepressive Agents - administration & dosage; Antidepressive Agents - pharmacology; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Depression - drug therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine - metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Forced-swimming test; Hyperfoliatin; Hypericum - chemistry; Hypericum perfoliatum; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Monoaminergic system; Motor Activity - drug effects; Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors - pharmacology; Norepinephrine - metabolism; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phloroglucinol - analogs & derivatives; Phytotherapy; Plant Components, Aerial; Plant Extracts; Serotonin - metabolism; Swimming; Triterpenes - administration & dosage; Triterpenes - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0014-2999; 1879-0712
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2007.05.008

This study investigated, in mice, the antidepressant like effect of hyperfoliatin, a prenylated phloroglucinol derivative isolated from the aerial parts of Hypericum perfoliatum, as well as its action on monoaminergic systems. In the forced-swimming test, hyperfoliatin dose-dependently reduced immobility time. Immobility was interpreted as an expression of “behavioural despair”, which could be a component of depression syndrome. The effect of hyperfoliatin did not result from the stimulation of animal motor activity. Hyperfoliatin inhibited, in a concentration-dependent manner, the [ 3H]-dopamine, [ 3H]-serotonin and [ 3H]-noradrenaline synaptosomal uptakes, but did not prevent the binding of specific ligands to the monoamine transporters. These data suggest that the antidepressant-like effect of hyperfoliatin on the forced-swimming test is probably associated to monoamine uptake inhibition, due to a mechanism of action different from that of known antidepressants.