• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.441-446
• /
• 2013

In the present study, the anti-depressant like effect of methyl gallate (MG) isolated from the stem bark of Acer barbinerve was examined in ICR mice. Body weight (BDW) and blood glucose (BDG) levels significantly decreased in the repeated restraint stress (RRS) group (2 h/day for 14 days) compared to the no stress (NS) group. To examine the effect of MG on RS-induced BDW loss and hypoglycemia, MG (10 mg/kg) and the anti-depressant fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) were administered daily for 14 days. Orally administered MG and fluoxetine significantly attenuated the RS-induced BDW loss and hypoglycemia. Interestingly, MG administered mice showed increased BDG levels in the normal and glucose feeding condition. Chronic RS-subjected mice showed immobilized and depressed behaviors. The effect of MG on the depressed behaviors was evaluated using the tail-suspension test (TST) and the forced swimming test (FST). In both tests, RS-induced immobilized behaviors were significantly reversed in MG and fluoxetine administered groups. Taken together, MG significantly attenuated the RS-induced BDW loss, hypoglycemia, and depressed behaviors. Considering that decreased BDG levels (hypoglycemia) can cause depression, MG may exert its anti-depressant like effect by preventing hypoglycemia. Our results suggest that MG isolated from A. barbinerve can exert anti-depressant like effect, and could be used as a new and natural anti-depressant therapy.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.101-105
• /
• 2002

A battery of neuropharmacological experiments showed the hot water extract of Ocimum sanctum Linn. (Labiateae) had a depressant effect on the central nervous system (CNS), but the aqueous extract showed no effect on it. The hot water extract reduced the spontaneous locomotor activity, exploratory head dipping, propulsive locomotion and exploratory ambulation as well as prolonged the pentobarbital induced sleeping time. The depressant effect starts from 60 minutes after the drug administration and continued to 180 minutes. The drug may exert central depressant effect by interfering with the function of the cortex.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.237-239
• /
• 2004

Mallotus nepalensis (Euphorbiaceae) is a small tree found in central and eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Wallich and Sikkim. The 90% ethanolic extract of Mallotus nepalensis exhibited mild CNS depressant activity. Four compounds, lupeol (1), ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (2), ursolic acid (3) and ${\beta}-sitosterol-\;{\beta}-D-glucoside$ (4) were isolated from the 90% ethanolic extract of this plant of which 1, 3 and 4 are being reported for the first time from this species.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.189-196
• /
• 1982

Piperine was reported to have a potential central nervous system (CNS) depressant activity in mice. In order to search a more active and less toxic compound than piperine and to elucidate the active group of piperine, the aromatic amides (10 compeunds) and aromatic esters (10 cempounds) of 3, 4-methylenedioxycinnamic acid were synthesized and evaluated on CNS depressant activity in comparison with piperine. The pharmacological tests conducted are as follows; (1) Acute, toxicity, (2) Antagonism against strychnine induced conduced convulsion, (3) Antagonism against maximal electrobhock seizure, (4) Rotarod test, (5) Potentiation of hexobarbital sleeping time. It was observed that 3, 4-methylendioxycinanamic acid derivatives were less toxic than piperine, and showed no significant CNS depressant activities. These facts indicate that the piperoyl group might be concerned with the pharmacological activity of piperine.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.121-125
• /
• 1979

Piperine showed a central nervous system depressant activity which was characterized by the antagonistic effect against chemoshock seizure as well as potent muscular incoordination in mice.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.57-68
• /
• 2018

Objectives: To experimentally assess the anti-depressant effects of Gammakdaejo-tang Complex Extracts (GMDJ-Tang) in rats. Methods: Twenty Wistar Hannover (160~170 g) stressed rats were treated with different concentrations of GMDJ-Tang extracts i.e., 0, 62.5 mg/kg, 125 mg/kg, and 250 mg/kg. Chronic mild stress was induced by food deprivation, empty bottles, forced swimming, flickered light, tilt cages, shaking cages, high density breeding, water deprivation, and by soaking the litter cover according to fixed schedule. Blood and brain tissue samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Tests included serotonin and ELISA assays. Results: GMDJ-tang increased the weight of treated rats as well as levels of serotonin, BDNF and TrkB; however, the differences were not significant. In contrast, the extracts significantly decreased blood glucose in stressed rats. GMDJ-tang extracts did not significantly impact Serum AST, ALT, leukocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes when comparing treatment groups to control rats. Likewise, hemoglobin, hematocrit and PLT increased in treatment groups following treatment with GMDJ-tang, but this change was without significance. Conclusions: These results suggest that GMDJ-tang can alleviate chronic mild stress in rats, possibly through anti-depressant activity.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.448-451
• /
• 2008

Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle. is a well known medicinal plant among the indigenous medical practitioners of India. Present study is the first time to report the activity on the central nervous system. Preliminary study of the hot water extract showed significant depressant activity on the hole board test as evidenced from the ambulation and head dipping scores. The extract showed better activity compared to diazepam on the duration of pentobarbital induced sleeping time.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.215-220
• /
• 2006

The Sundarbans mangrove forest has a rich biodiversity of flowering plants and many of these have been used in traditional medicine although the flora remains comparatively uninvestigated scientifically. Xylocarpus granatum, Xylocarpus moluccensis and Excoecaria agallocha methanolic extract showed a central nervous system depressant activity on the hole cross and open field test at 800 mg/kg dose level. The most significant depressant activity was observed in Xylocarpus granatum followed by Xylocarpus moluccensis and Excoecaria agallocha. There was no depressant activity observed in the models for Sarcolobus globosus. Further studies are required to confirm the activity and to explain the mechanism.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.86-89
• /
• 2010

Two common Indian spices Carum copticum Karst (ajowan) and Cinnamomum tamala T.Nees. (bay leaves) has been investigated first time to report the activity on the central nervous system. Preliminary study of the hot water extract showed depressant activity on the hole board test as evidenced from the ambulation and head dipping scores. The extracts further quicken the onset and increased the duration of pentobarbital induced sleeping time.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.127-132
• /
• 1984

Systematic pharmacological astudies on pipeline have revealed that this compound elicited diverse pharmacological activities; CNS depressant activity characterized by antagonism against electo shock seizure and by muscle relaxant activity in mice; antipyretic activity in tyyhoid vaccinated rabbits; analgesic activity as evaluated by tail-clip pressure and writhing syndrome in mice; antiinflammatory activity in carrageenin-induced edema in rats.