Calapai G, Crupi A, Firenzuoli F, Costantino G, Inferrera G, Campo G M, Caputi A P
Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Italy.
J Pharm Pharmacol. 1999 Jun;51(6):723-8. doi: 10.1211/0022357991772862.
The plant Hypericum perforatum is used in folk medicine to treat several diseases and research attention has been recently focused on its antidepressant action. Hypericin and flavonoids are the most important constituents of the plant, but the exact role of these compounds in the effects of hypericum on mood disorders is not well known. We have investigated the contribution of these compounds to the antidepressant effects of hypericum. The effects of acute administration of hypericum extracts on levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), tryptophan, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), noradrenaline and dopamine in the cortex, diencephalon and brainstem was evaluated. The levels of these neurotransmitters were measured 1 h and 24 h after administration of two different extracts, one containing 0.3% hypericin and 6% flavonoids (Li 160; 25-500 mgkg(-1)), the other containing 0.3% hypericin and 50% flavonoids (Ph-50; 25-500 mgkg(-1)). Results from experiments performed on 5-HT turnover were compared with the effects of fluoxetine (10-80 mgkg(-1)). Li 160, Ph-50 and fluoxetine induced a significant increase in the 5-HT content of the cortex. In the diencephalon Ph-50, but not Li 160 or fluoxetine, elicited an increase in 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels. In the brainstem Ph-50 and fluoxetine caused an increase in 5-HT content; Li 160 did not change neurotransmitter content. Both Li 160 and Ph-50 caused increases of noradrenaline and dopamine in the diencephalon. In the brainstem only Ph-50 induced an increase in noradrenaline content. Our data confirm that acute administration of hypericum extracts modifies the levels of neurotransmitters involved in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. When the extracts contain a higher concentration of flavonoids the effects are more widespread and involve brain regions such as diencephalon and brainstem that are implicated in depression.
贯叶连翘在民间医学中用于治疗多种疾病，最近研究关注的焦点是其抗抑郁作用。金丝桃素和黄酮类化合物是该植物最重要的成分，但这些化合物在贯叶连翘对情绪障碍影响中的确切作用尚不清楚。我们研究了这些化合物对贯叶连翘抗抑郁作用的贡献。评估了急性给予贯叶连翘提取物对皮质、间脑和脑干中5-羟色胺（5-HT）、色氨酸、5-羟吲哚乙酸（5-HIAA）、去甲肾上腺素和多巴胺水平的影响。在给予两种不同提取物（一种含有0.3%金丝桃素和6%黄酮类化合物（Li 160；25 - 500 mgkg(-1)），另一种含有0.3%金丝桃素和50%黄酮类化合物（Ph - 50；25 - 500 mgkg(-1)））后1小时和24小时测量这些神经递质的水平。将5-HT周转率实验结果与氟西汀（10 - 80 mgkg(-1)）的作用进行比较。Li 160、Ph - 50和氟西汀均使皮质中的5-HT含量显著增加。在间脑中，Ph - 50而非Li 160或氟西汀使5-HT和5-HIAA水平升高。在脑干中，Ph - 50和氟西汀使5-HT含量增加；Li 160未改变神经递质含量。Li 160和Ph - 50均使间脑中的去甲肾上腺素和多巴胺增加。在脑干中，仅Ph - 50使去甲肾上腺素含量增加。我们的数据证实，急性给予贯叶连翘提取物可改变参与情绪障碍病理生理学的神经递质水平。当提取物含有较高浓度的黄酮类化合物时，其作用更广泛，涉及间脑和脑干等与抑郁症有关的脑区。
