| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2019 | Volume
: 15
| Issue : 61 | Page : 226-231 |
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Antidepressant-like effects of methanol extract and fractions of Hypericum juniperinum kunth in the forced swimming test
Laura A Mejia-Agudelo1, Maritza A Rojas1, Mario F Guerrero-Pabón2, Freddy A Ramos3, Leonardo Castellanos3, Juan Camilo Marín-Loaiza1
1 Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Sede Bogotá, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, GIFFUN, Bogotá, Colombia
2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Sede Bogotá, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, FARMOL, Bogotá, Colombia
3 Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Sede Bogotá, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Estudio y aprovechamiento de productos naturales marinos y frutas de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
Correspondence Address:
Juan Camilo Marín-Loaiza
Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Sede Bogotá, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, GIFFUN, Carrera 30 # 45-03, Ed 450,of. 107, Bogotá D.C., 111321
Colombia
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/pm.pm_341_18
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Background: Some members of the genus Hypericum have been shown to demonstrate antidepressant-like effects. In Colombia, approximately 54 species of Hypericum have been reported, and only a few have been investigated chemical and pharmacologically. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of a methanol extract, as well as ethyl acetate and butanol fractions, obtained from aerial parts of Hypericum juniperinum K. Materials and Methods: Behavioral and locomotor activities were evaluated in the open field test (OFT). Antidepressant-like activity was measured in the forced swimming test (FST) in male Swiss albino mice. Preliminary phytochemical screening as well as a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profile of the active fractions of H. juniperinum was performed. Results: Treatment with the methanol extract at 500 mg/kg and the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions at 150 and 300 mg/kg resulted in a decrease in the immobility times in FST. In the OFT, none of the treatments presented altered behavior or locomotor activity of mice. Preliminary phytochemical screening identified terpenes/steroids, flavonoids, phenol derivatives, tannins, and saponins. In the HPLC analysis of the fractions, rutin, quercitrin, and quercetin were identified with the help of coinjection of standards. Conclusion: This is the first report of the antidepressant-like activity of extracts and fractions obtained from H. juniperinum in the FST model of depression. Flavonoids may be responsible for the antidepressant-like action of H. juniperinum.
Abbreviations used: FST: Forced swimming test; HJE: Methanol extract of Hypericum juniperinum; HJEAF: Ethyl acetate fraction obtained from the methanol extract of Hypericum juniperinum; HJEBF: Butanol fraction obtained from the methanol extract of Hypericum juniperinum; HPE: Methanol extract of Hypericum perforatum; HPLC: High-performance liquid chromatography; IMI: Imipramine; MeOH: Methanol; OFT: Open field test; tR: Retention time; UV: Ultra violet; VEH: Vehicle.
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