Hydroethanolic extract of Carthamus tinctorius induces antidepressant-like effects: modulation by dopaminergic and serotonergic systems in tail suspension test in mice

Objective(s): Studies indicate that major deficiency in the levels of monoaminergic transmitters is a reason for severe depression. On the other hand, it is shown that Carthamus tinctorius L. (CT) may improve neuropsychological injuries by regulation of the monoamine transporter action. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the involvement of monoaminergic systems in antidepressant-like effect of CT extract in the tail suspension test (TST) in mice. Materials and Methods: The mice were intraperitoneally (IP) treated with CT extract (۱۰۰–۴۰۰ mg/kg) ۱hr before the TST. To investigate the involvement of monoaminergic systems in antidepressant-like effect, the mice were treated with receptor antagonists ۱۵ min before CT extract treatment (۴۰۰ mg/kg, IP) and ۱hr before the TST. Results: Findings showed that CT extract (۱۰۰–۴۰۰ mg/kg, IP), dose-dependently induced antidepressant-like effect (P<۰.۰۰۱), but it was not accompanied by alterations in spontaneous locomotor activity in the open-field test. Pretreatment of mice with SCH۲۳۳۹۰, sulpiride, haloperidol, WAY۱۰۰۱۳۵, cyproheptadine, ketanserin and p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) inhibited the antidepressant-like effect of CT extract (۴۰۰ mg/kg, IP), but not with prazosin and yohimbine. Co-administration of CT extract (۱۰۰ mg/kg, IP) with sub-effective doses of fluoxetine (۵ mg/kg, IP) or imipramine (۵ mg/kg, IP) increased their antidepressant-like response. Conclusion: Our findings firstly showed that components (especially N-Hexadecanoic acid) of CT extract induce antidepressant-like effects by interaction with dopaminergic (D۱ and D۲) and serotonergic (۵HT۱A, ۵-HT۲A receptors) systems. These findings validate the folk use of CT extract for the management of depression.

Keywords:

Antidepressant-like effect , Carthamus tinctorius L , Mice , Monoaminergic system , Tail suspension test