An acute dose-ranging evaluation of the antidepressant properties of Sceletium tortuosum (Zembrin®) versus escitalopram in the Flinders Sensitive Line rat

Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved..

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sceletium tortuosum (L.) N.E.Br. (ST) has been used by the Khoisan people of South Africa as a mood elevator. Its various pharmacological mechanisms of action suggest distinct potential as an antidepressant. Clinical studies in healthy individuals suggest beneficial effects on mood, cognition, and anxiety.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To obtain a chromatographic fingerprint of a standardized extract of S. tortuosum (Zembrin®), and to evaluate the acute antidepressant-like properties of Zembrin® versus the reference antidepressant, escitalopram, in the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rat, a genetic rodent model of depression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical profile of Zembrin® was determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) chromatogram method using alkaloid standards. Twelve saline treated FSL and six Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) control rats were used to confirm face validity of the FSL model using the forced swim test (FST). Thereafter, FSL rats (n = 10) received either 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg of Zembrin®, or 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg escitalopram oxalate (ESC), both via oral gavage, and subjected to the open field test (OFT) and FST.

RESULTS: Four main ST alkaloids were identified and quantified in Zembrin® viz. mesembrenone, mesembrenol, mesembrine, and mesembranol (47.9%, 32%, 13.2%, and 6.8% of the total alkaloids, respectively). FSL rats showed significantly decreased swimming and climbing (coping) behaviours, and significantly increased immobility (despair), versus FRL controls. ESC 5 mg/kg and Zembrin® 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg showed significant dose-dependent reversal of immobility in FSL rats and variable effects on coping behaviours. Zembrin® 50 mg/kg was the most effective antidepressant dose, showing equivalence to ESC 5.

CONCLUSIONS: Zembrin® (25 and 50 mg/kg) and ESC (5 mg/kg) are effective antidepressants after acute treatment in the FST, as assessed in FSL rats. Moreover, Zembrin® 50 mg/kg proved equivalent to ESC 5. Further long-term bio-behavioural studies on the antidepressant properties of Zembrin® are warranted.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:284

Enthalten in:

Journal of ethnopharmacology - 284(2022) vom: 10. Feb., Seite 114550

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Gericke, Johané [VerfasserIn]
Lekhooa, Makhotso [VerfasserIn]
Steyn, Stephan F [VerfasserIn]
Viljoen, Alvaro M [VerfasserIn]
Harvey, Brian H [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

4O4S742ANY
Adjunctive medicine
Antidepressant
Antidepressive Agents
Comparative Study
Complementary
Escitalopram
FSL rat
FST
Journal Article
OFT
Plant Extracts
Sceletium tortuosum

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 16.02.2022

Date Revised 16.02.2022

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.jep.2021.114550

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM329968734