Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Studies on anti-depressant activity of four flavonoids isolated from Apocynum venetum Linn (Apocynaceae) leaf in mice

Shao-Xiao Yan , Jun-Lian Lang, Yan-Ying Song, Yu-Ze Wu, Meng-Han Lv, Xia Zhao, Yan-Hong Liu, Chun-Yan Xu

Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100096, PR China;

For correspondence:- Shao-Xiao Yan Email: bjhlghyan@126.com

Received: 20 July 2015 Accepted: 28 October 2015 Published: 27 December 2015

Citation: Yan S, Lang J, Song Y, Wu Y, Lv M, Zhao X, et al. Studies on anti-depressant activity of four flavonoids isolated from Apocynum venetum Linn (Apocynaceae) leaf in mice. Trop J Pharm Res 2015; 14(12):2269-2277 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v14i12.17

© 2015 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the anti-depressant activity of kaempferol, quercetin, kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucose and quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucose isolated from Apocynum venetum Linn. (Apocynaceae) leaf and their mechanisms of action.

Methods: Four flavonoids were isolated from Apocynum venetum leaf by chromatography. Mice were divided into vehicle, fluoxetine, kaempferol, quercetin, kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucose and quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucose groups (n = 10). Forced swimming (FST), tail suspension (TST) and locomotor activity (LAT) tests were used to evaluate the effects of the four flavonoids (0.35 mM/kg) on immobility time, monoamine neurotransmitters, viz, norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), as well as on the metabolite (5-HIAA) in mice brain and central nervous system (CNS) with the aid of video camera, HPLC-ECD and activity-monitoring system.

Results: The four flavonoids significantly (p < 0.05) reduced mice immobility time (72.58 - 90.24; 52.58 - 70.24 s), 5-HIAA levels (940.8 - 1244.7; 880.8 - 1164.1 ng/g) and 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio (1.77 - 4.76; 1.83 - 4.16), but increased NE, DA and 5-HT levels (238.7 - 405.7, 308.4 - 528.1, 261.4 - 531.9; 243.9 - 423.6, 296.7 - 534.9, 279.8 - 481.4 ng/g) in FST and TST, compared with control group (146.18, 126.18 s; 1363.4, 1240.9 ng/g; 7.43, 6.16; 138.4, 235.4, 183.4 and 143.7, 218.6, 201.4 ng/g). The effects of the four flavonoids on the above indices were significant (p < 0.05) and positively related to their polarity. They had no CNS-stimulating effects in LAT.

Conclusion:The anti-depressant activities of the four flavonoids are positively related to their polarity, and the mechanisms may be due to increased NE, DA and 5-HT and reduced 5-HT metabolism.