Antidepressant-like effect of Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil. ethanolic extract and fractions in mice

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil. (Lythraceae) has been referred in Brazilian traditional medicine for the treatment of different diseases, among them depression. Nevertheless, there are not studies about this possible effect on the central nervous system (CNS). Aim of the study: To evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of the ethanolic extract of Lafoensia pacari (PEtExt) and its fractions on the performance of male mice. Materials and methods: Antidepressant activity was studied using forced swimming (FST) and tail suspension (TST) tests, and motor activity in the open-field test. The ethanolic extract of Lafoensia pacari (PEtExt) were administered acutely (1.0 g/kg, p.o.), for 21 days (100, 300 mg, and 1.0 g/(kg day), p.o.), three administration in a 24-h period (1.0 g/kg, p.o.), and the fractions for 21 days. Imipramine (15 mg/(kg day), p.o.) was used as the control positive. Results: The PEtExt significantly reduced immobility time in FST and TST, without affecting the motor activity. Only the chloroformic fraction (50 mg/(kg day), p.o.) increase the latency to immobility and decrease the immobility time in the FST. Conclusions: These data indicate that the extract of Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil. possesses antidepressant-like properties in mice. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.