Psychoactive substances 25H-NBOMe and 25H-NBOH induce antidepressant-like behavior in male rats.
Barbara G Ferri, Cintia O De Novais, Raquel S Bonani, Wellington A De Barros, Ângelo de Fátima, Fabiana C Vilela, Alexandre Giusti-Paiva
European Journal of Pharmacology September 15, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175926 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Male adult Wistar rats |
| Interventions | 25H-NBOMe 25H-NBOH |
| Dose | 0.1 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg |
| Topics | Depression |
| Keywords | Forced swimming test Psychedelics |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | A single dose of 25H-NBOMe or 25H-NBOH increased escape motivation in the forced swimming test, indicating antidepressant-like effects in rats. |
Abstract
Ring-substituted phenethylamines are believed to induce psychedelic effects primarily by interacting with 5-hydroxytryptamine 2 (5-HT2A) receptors in the brain. We assessed the effect of the psychedelic substances 25H-NBOMe and 25H-NBOH on the depressive-like behavior of male adult rats. Naive Wistar rats were divided into groups to assess the effects of different doses (0.1 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, and 3 mg/kg) of 25H-NBOMe and 25H-NBOH. The substances were administered intraperitoneally and the hallucinogenic properties were evaluated using the head twitch response test (HTR). Additionally, we assessed their locomotor activity in the open field test (OFT) and depressive-like behavior in the forced swimming test (FST). Our data demonstrated that all doses of synthetic psychedelic substances evaluated exhibited hallucinogenic effects. Interestingly, we observed that both 25H-NBOMe and 25H-NBOH produced a significantly greater motivation to escape in the FST, compared to the control group. Furthermore, we found no significant differences in locomotor activity during the OFT, except for the dose of 3 mg/kg, which induced a reduction in locomotion. This study provides new insights into a potential psychedelic substance, specifically by demonstrating the previously unknown antidepressant properties of a single dose of both 25H-NBOMe and 25H-NBOH. These findings contribute to the ongoing progress of experimental psychiatry toward developing safe and effective clinical practices in the field of psychedelics research.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelics, but Not Ketamine, Produce Persistent Antidepressant-like Effects in a Rodent Experimental System for the Study of Depression Rats | 2020 | Preclinical study | |
| A Single Subanesthetic Dose of Ketamine Relieves Depression-like Behaviors Induced by Neuropathic Pain in Rats Rats with spared nerve injury (neuropathic pain model), sham-operated rats, and control... | 2011 | Animal experimental study | |
| Effects of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine on Rat Behaviors Relevant to Anxiety and Depression Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats | 2018 | Experimental study | |
| A non-hallucinogenic LSD analog with therapeutic potential for mood disorders. Mice and cultured rat cortical neurons | 2023 | Preclinical study | |
| Comparison of (R)-ketamine and lanicemine on depression-like phenotype and abnormal composition of gut microbiota in a social defeat stress model Susceptible mice after chronic social defeat stress | 2017 | Preclinical animal study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- Psychedelics: A review of their effects on recalled aversive memories and fear/anxiety expression in rodents Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews September 20, 2024
- Psychedelics in the Treatment of Neurologic and Psychiatric Disorders: Coincidence or a New Point of View. Molecular Neurobiology June 4, 2025
- Psychedelic 25H-NBOMe attenuates post-sepsis depression in rats. Neuroscience Letters June 21, 2024
- Toxicodynamic insights of 2C and NBOMe drugs - Is there abuse potential? Toxicology Reports June 1, 2025
- The psychedelic phenethylamine 25C-NBF, a selective 5-HT2A agonist, shows psychoplastogenic properties and rapid antidepressant effects in male rodents Molecular Psychiatry November 14, 2025
and 5 more in the library
Cites 33
- Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action Neuroreport December 1, 1998
- Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry March 1, 2015
- Psychedelics promote neuroplasticity through the activation of intracellular 5-HT2A receptors Science February 16, 2023
- Therapeutic effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics: A systematic review of modern‐era clinical studies Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica October 30, 2020
- Hallucinogens and Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptor-Mediated Signaling Pathways Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences 2017
and 28 more in the library