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Purpurin Exerted Antidepressant-Like Effects on Behavior and Stress Axis Reactivity: Evidence of Serotonergic Engagement

Purpurin Exerted Antidepressant-Like Effects on Behavior and Stress Axis Reactivity: Evidence of Serotonergic Engagement

Li Ma, Pei Hu, Junfang Zhang, Wugeng Cui, Xin Zhao

Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2020 Mar;237(3):887-899.

PMID: 31900524

Abstract:

Rationale and objectives:
Major depression represents a significant public health problem worldwide, and effective regimen is lacking. The present study investigated the antidepressant-like effects of purpurin, a natural anthraquinone compound from Rubia tinctorum L., and explored the underlying mechanism(s).
Methods:
Forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were used to assess antidepressant-like effects of purpurin in mice. Effects of purpurin on neuroendocrine responsivity were evaluated at the level of corticosterone and ACTH following acute restraint stress and intracerebroventricular injection of corticotrophin-releasing-factor (CRF). Serotonergic mechanisms underlying purpurin antidepressant effect were explored using biochemical, neurochemical, and pharmacological paradigms.
Results:
Chronic purpurin treatment exerted in mice dose-dependently antidepressant-like effects on behavior and stress axis reactivity (n = 9-11 per group). The purpurin-triggered antidepressant-like effects are serotonergically dependent, since purpurin-treated mice showed escalated levels of brain serotonin and suppressed monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity (n = 8-11 per group). Consistently, chemical depletion of brain serotonin by p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) abolished the antidepressant-like effects of purpurin on behavior and stress axis responsivity (n = 9-10 per group). Moreover, the antidepressant effect by purpurin was preferentially counteracted by 1A-selective 5-HT receptor antagonist WAY-100635, but potentiated by 1A-selective agonist 8-OH-DPAT and sub-effective dose of serotonergic antidepressant fluoxetine (n = 9-11 per group), suggesting a crucial role for 5-HT1A related serotonergic system in mediating such purpurin antidepressant effect.
Conclusion:
We have revealed the antidepressant-like effects of purpurin on both behavior and stress axis reactivity in mice, with serotonergic system that preferentially couples with 5-HT1A receptors being critically engaged.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP81549	Purpurin		81-54-9	Price

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