Psychopharmacology

, Volume 182, Issue 1, pp 45–53 | Cite as

Antidepressant-like effects of Trichilia catigua (Catuaba) extract: evidence for dopaminergic-mediated mechanisms

  • Maria M. Campos
  • Elizabeth S. Fernandes
  • Juliano Ferreira
  • Adair R. S. Santos
  • João B. Calixto
Original Investigation
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Rationale

Currently available therapy for depression treatment is often associated with several undesirable side effects, and it is effective only in a certain portion of the population. Therefore, the identification of alternative therapeutic tools for the treatment of depression is still needed.

Objective

The present study analyzed the possible antidepressant-like effects of the Brazilian medicinal plant, Trichilia catigua, in rodents. Attempts were also made to investigate some of the possible mechanisms implicated in its actions.

Methods

The antidepressant-like effects of T. catigua extract were assessed in two species of rodents (mice and rats) by means of in vivo (forced swimming test) and in vitro (monoamine reuptake and release in synaptosomal preparations) approaches.

Results

Acute oral treatment with the extract of T. catigua produced antidepressant-like effects in the forced swimming model in both mice and rats. Anti-immobility actions of T. catigua extract in mice were significantly reversed by haloperidol or by chlorpromazine, but not by pimozide, ketanserin, spiroxatrine or p-chlorophenylalanine. In vitro, T. catigua extract concentration-dependently inhibited the uptake and increased the release of serotonin, and especially of dopamine, from rat brain synaptosomal preparations.

Conclusions

The present study provides convincing evidence for a dopamine-mediated antidepressant-like effect of the active principle(s) present in the hydroalcoholic extract of T. catigua in mice and rats when in vivo and in vitro strategies were employed. Therefore, a standardized T. catigua extract or its purified constituents could be of potential interest for the treatment of depressive disorders.

Keywords

Trichilia catigua Catuaba Antidepressant Mice Rat Monoamine uptake and release 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from CNPq, CAPES, PRONEX and Laboratório Catarinense (Brazil). E.S.F and J.F. are Ph.D. students receiving grants from CAPES and CNPq, respectively. M.M.C. holds a postdoctoral fellowship from CAPES. The technical assistance of Ms. Aline Mariana Venâncio is gratefully acknowledged.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2005

Authors and Affiliations

  • Maria M. Campos
    • 1
  • Elizabeth S. Fernandes
    • 1
  • Juliano Ferreira
    • 1
  • Adair R. S. Santos
    • 2
  • João B. Calixto
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Pharmacology, Center of Biological SciencesUniversidade Federal de Santa CatarinaFlorianópolisBrazil
  2. 2.Department of Physiology, Center of Biological SciencesUniversidade Federal de Santa CatarinaFlorianópolisBrazil

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