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Differential effects of three species of Hypericum in an open field test
Author(s) -
Diana Giovanni,
Capasso Anna,
Quaranta Emilia,
Feo Vincenzo De
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.2052
Subject(s) - hypericum perforatum , open field , motor activity , pharmacology , behavioural despair test , dose dependence , traditional medicine , antidepressant , biology , medicine , chemistry , endocrinology , hippocampus
The effects of three species of Hypericum ( H. ) on mice motor activity were compared in an automated open field test. Methanol extracts of H. perforatum L., H. hircinum L. and H. perfoliatum L. were tested at doses ranging from 2.5 to 200 mg i.p. H. hircinum decreased locomotion at most dose levels. Moreover, a dose of 200 mg/kg of all three herbal species sharply decreased motor activity. Ten mg/kg of H. perforatum , a dose that is comparable to that endowed with antidepressant effects in humans, tended to increase exploration and stereotypic activity and to decrease immobility. The study suggests that there are differences in the neuropharmacological actions of the three plant extracts. However, common constituents might explain the reduced motor activity observed at high dose levels. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.