Department of Biomedical Science, Federal University of Alfenas-MG, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
J Med Food. 2010 Feb;13(1):219-22. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2008.0303.
The aim of the present work is to evaluate the putative antidepressant-like effects of hydroethanolic and dichloromethanic extracts from the aerial parts of Sonchus oleraceus (Family Asteraceae) on the performance of male mice in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) models predictive of depression. The hydroethanolic and dichloromethanic extracts, both in doses of 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, were orally administered 1 hour before carrying out the FST or the TST. The immobility time in both the FST and the TST was significantly reduced by acute oral treatment with the extracts (dose range, 100-300 mg/kg), without accompanying changes in ambulation, as assessed in an open-field test. This excluded the possibility that the effect of the extracts is due to an activation of locomotion. The efficacy of the extracts was found to be comparable to that of amitriptyline (10 mg/kg, p.o.). The present study provides evidence for an antidepressant-like effect of the active principle(s) present in the extracts of S. oleraceus in mice. Therefore, a standardized S. oleraceus extract or its purified constituents could be of potential interest for the treatment of depressive disorders.
本研究旨在评估来自菊科植物苦苣菜（Sonchus oleraceus）地上部分的水-乙醇提取物和二氯甲烷提取物对雄性小鼠在强迫游泳试验（FST）和悬尾试验（TST）中的潜在抗抑郁作用，这两种试验模型可预测抑郁。水-乙醇提取物和二氯甲烷提取物均以 30、100 和 300mg/kg 的剂量口服给药，在进行 FST 或 TST 前 1 小时给药。急性口服给予提取物（剂量范围 100-300mg/kg）可显著减少 FST 和 TST 中的不动时间，而在旷场试验中评估的运动没有伴随变化。这排除了提取物的作用是由于运动激活的可能性。提取物的功效与阿米替林（10mg/kg，po）相当。本研究为 S.oleraceus 提取物中的活性成分在小鼠中具有抗抑郁样作用提供了证据。因此，标准化的 S.oleraceus 提取物或其纯化成分可能对治疗抑郁障碍具有潜在的兴趣。
