Investigating the effects of Hypericum origanifolium Willd. hydroalcoholic extract on central nervous system of mice

Possible effects of hydroalcoholic extract prepared from Hypericum origanifolium Willd. (Guttiferae) on behavioral parameters and pain perceptions of mice were investigated, in this present thesis study.Effects of the extract on depression, anxiety, spontaneous locomotor activity and motor coordination parameters of animals were performed by modified forced swimming, hole board, activity cage and Rota-rod tests, respectively. In addition, antinociceptive effect of the extract was evaluated by applying hot plate, tail clip and formalin tests.Performed psychopharmacological experiments displayed the antidepressant, anxiolytic and analgesic effect of the extract after acut and subacute administrations to mice. Anxiolytic effect of the extract was antagonized by flumazenil pre-treatment pointed out the participation of GABA(A)-benzodiazepine receptor complex in the activity. On the other hand, centrally and peripherally mediated antinociception induced by the extract was antagonized by naloxone, non-selective opioid reseptör antagonist, indicating the involvement of opioid system in the pharmacological action. Phytochemical analyze exhibited that the rutin (2108,79 ppm) and chlorogenic acid (2317,12 ppm) are main phenolic compounds of the Hypericum origanifolium hydroalcoholic extract tested in the present work. Active constituent-pharmacological activity relationships were discussed for rutin and chlorogenic asid, two major consitiuents of the extract.Key Words: Hypericum origanifolium, analgesia, depression, anxiety, motor coordination, spontaneous locomotor activity, rutin, chlorogenic acid