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Luteolin mediates the antidepressant-like effects of Cirsium japonicum in mice, possibly through modulation of the GABAA receptor

Archives of Pharmacal Research volume 37, pages 263–269 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Cirsium japonicum (CJ) has been shown to possess antidepressant-like properties. In the present study, we sought to identify which constituent of CJ might be responsible for its antidepressant effects and determine probable mechanism of action. The ethanol extract of CJ was administered to mice then behavioral changes were evaluated in the forced-swimming test (FST) and open-field test (OFT). In addition, its effects on norepinephrine (NE) reuptake and intracellular chloride (Cl−) flux were determined, in vitro. The effects of CJ’s major constituents (linarin, pectolinarin, chlorogenic acid, luteolin) were also evaluated. CJ showed antidepressant-like effect by significantly reducing immobile behavior of mice in the FST, without increasing locomotor activity in the OFT. CJ had no effect on monoamine (NE) uptake, but it significantly promoted Cl− ion influx in human neuroblastoma cells. This CJ-induced Cl− influx was significantly blocked by co-administration of the competitive GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline. Among the major constituents of the CJ extract, only luteolin produced similar antidepressant-like effect, in vivo, and Cl− ion influx, in vitro. Altogether, the present results suggest that the antidepressant-like effect of CJ was most probably induced by its constituent luteolin, mediated through potentiation of the GABAA receptor-Cl− ion channel complex.

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Acknowledgments

The present study is financially supported by Sahmyook University and the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Project (PJ008192).

Conflict of interest

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, Uimyung Research Institute for Neuroscience, Sahmyook University, 26-21 Kongneung-2-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 139-742, Republic of Korea

    June Bryan I. de la Peña, Chong Ah Kim, Hye Lim Lee, Seo Young Yoon, Hee Jin Kim & Jae Hoon Cheong

  2. Nutraceuticals and Functional Food Research & Development, Cheil Jedang (CJ) Corporation, Seoul, 152-051, Republic of Korea

    Eun Young Hong

  3. Department of Food & Nutrition, College of Natural Science, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul, 132-714, Republic of Korea

    Gun Hee Kim

  4. Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyunghee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Jong Hoon Ryu

  5. College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul, 132-714, Republic of Korea

    Yong Soo Lee

  6. Pharmacology Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, Chonnam National University, Kwang-Ju, 500-575, Republic of Korea

    Kyeong Man Kim

Authors
  1. June Bryan I. de la Peña
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  2. Chong Ah Kim
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  3. Hye Lim Lee
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  4. Seo Young Yoon
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  5. Hee Jin Kim
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  6. Eun Young Hong
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  7. Gun Hee Kim
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  8. Jong Hoon Ryu
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  9. Yong Soo Lee
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  10. Kyeong Man Kim
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  11. Jae Hoon Cheong
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jae Hoon Cheong.

Additional information

June Bryan I. de la Peña and Chong Ah Kim have equally contributed in performing the experiments and in the preparation of the manuscript.

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de la Peña, J.B.I., Kim, C.A., Lee, H.L. et al. Luteolin mediates the antidepressant-like effects of Cirsium japonicum in mice, possibly through modulation of the GABAA receptor. Arch. Pharm. Res. 37, 263–269 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-013-0229-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-013-0229-9

Keywords

  • Cirsium japonicum
  • Luteolin
  • Antidepressant
  • Forced-swim test
  • GABA
  • Depression