Antidepressant Activity of Extract of Hypericum perforatum with Enriched Flavonoids / 中药新药与临床药理

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the antidepressed effects of the extract of Hypericum perforatum with enriched flavonoids. Methods The forced swimming test( FST) , tail suspension test( TST) , open field activity( OFA) test and reserpine- induced hypothermia test were carried out to determine the antidepressant activity in mice. Mice immobility duration in FST and TST , spontaneous activity frequency in OFA , and body temperature decrease in reserpine antagonistic test were observed.Results Extract at the dosages of 40, 80, 160 and 240 mg/kg dosage except the dosage of 20 mg/kg, could significantly shorten mice immobility time in FST and TST.Extract could reduce mice spontaneous activity frequency to some degree in OFA. Compared with the model group, extract at the dosages of 30, 60 and 120 mg/kg could remarkably inhibit the decrease of body temperature in reserpine antagonistic test at 3rd, 4th and 5th hour, so did the extract at the dosages of 240 and 480 mg/kg. Conclusion Extract of Hypericum perforatum with enriched flavonoids (free of hyperforin) exerts an antidepressant activity in animal models.