Laetispicine, an amide alkaloid from Piper laetispicum, presents antidepressant and antinociceptive effects in mice.

In the present work, we studied the effect of laetispicine, an amide alkaloid isolated from the stems of Piper laetispicum (Piperaceae), in forced swimming, open field, acetic acid writhing and formalin tests in KM mice to assess antidepressant and antinociceptive effects. A significant and dose-dependent decrease in the immobility time, as evaluated by the forced swimming test, was observed after laetispicine administration (38.18, 39.79, 58.77 and 67.28% decreased at the doses of 5, 10, 20, 40mg/kg, respectively), suggesting an antidepressant effect. Furthermore, in the open field test, laetispicine at the given doses did not alter the number of crossings and rearing, as compared to controls. Results from writhing and formalin tests showed that laetispicine reduced the number of writhing in mice in a dose-dependent manner, attenuated the licking and spiting time of the injected paw in the first phase of formalin test. The antinociceptive effect of laetispicine was not affected by pre-treatment (i.p.) with naloxone (2mg/kg). In conclusion, we showed that laetispicine possessed significant antidepressant and antinociceptive properties, making this drug potentially useful in depression and pain.

[Isolation and identification of two new pyrone compounds from the culture of Herictum erinaceus].

Four crystalline and one liquid compounds were isolated from the solid cultured extract of Hericium erinaceus, Two of them are new, named herein III and IV. Their chemical structures were determined as 6-methyl-2,5-dihydroxymethyl-gamma-pyranone (III) and 2-hydroxymethyl-5-alpha-hydroxy-ethyl-gamma-pyranone (IV). The others are 4-chloro-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic-O-arabitol ester, 4-chloro-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic methyl ester and 4-chloro-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid. In addition, a mixture of palmic and stearic acid, a mixture of behenic acid and tetracosanic acid and a mixture of 5 alpha-ergostan-3-one, 5 alpha-stigmasten-22-en-3-one and 5 alpha-stigmastan-3-one were also isolated.