Ethanolic extract of Erythrina velutina Willd ameliorate schizophrenia-like behavior induced by ketamine in mice
N. C. Ximenes, Manuel Alves Dos Santos Junior, G. S. Vasconcelos, K. Dias, M. M. Jucá, A. H. Silva, L. Leal, G. Viana, F. C. F. de Sousa, S. Vasconcelos
Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine October 12, 2018 DOI: 10.1515/jcim-2018-0038 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Swiss mice |
| Intervention | Olanzapine |
| Dose | 200 or 400 mg/kg EEEV; 2 mg/kg olanzapine |
| Duration | 14-day treatment period with behavioral testing on day 14 |
| Measures | Prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex (PPI), Open field test (OFT), Y-maze task, Social interaction test (SIT) |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Key findings | Standardized ethanol extract of Erythrina velutina reversed ketamine-induced schizophrenia-like behavioral deficits in mice, comparable to olanzapine. |
Abstract
Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder, characterized by positive, negative and cognitive symptoms. In general, several plants have shown activity in diseases related to the central nervous system (e.g., Erythrina velutina (EEEV), also known as “mulungu”). For this reason, we aimed to investigate the effects of standardized ethanol extract obtained from the stem bark of EEEV on the schizophrenia-like behaviors induced by ketamine (KET) administration.
Methods: Swiss mice were treated with KET (20 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline for 14 days. In addition, from 8th to 14th days, saline, EEEV (200 or 400 mg/kg, p.o.) or olanzapine (OLAN 2 mg/kg, p.o.) were associated to the protocol. On the 14th day of treatment, schizophrenia-like symptoms were evaluated by the prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex (PPI), locomotor activity evaluated by the open field test (OFT), spatial recognition memory evaluated by the Y-maze task and social interaction test (SIT).
Results: KET has caused deficits in PPI, and it has also has caused hyperlocomotion in OFT and deficits in SIT as compared to control. EEEV in both doses used, reversed behavioral changes induced by KET, likewise results obtained with the administration of OLAN.
Conclusions: Taken together, the results demonstrate that the standard extract of EEEV was able to revert schizophrenia-like symptoms, due to the administration in repeated doses of ketamine. Thus, our findings lead to a new perspective for the use of EEEV an interesting alternative for drug discovery in schizophrenia.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| mTOR-Dependent Synapse Formation Underlies the Rapid Antidepressant Effects of NMDA Antagonists Rats | 2010 | Observational study | |
| Activation of Glutamatergic Neurotransmission by Ketamine: A Novel Step in the Pathway from NMDA Receptor Blockade to Dopaminergic and Cognitive Disruptions Associated with the Prefrontal Cortex Conscious rats | 1997 | Dose-response study with microdialysis and behavioral testing | |
| NMDAR inhibition-independent antidepressant actions of ketamine metabolites Mice | 2016 | Preclinical study | |
| The dissociative anaesthetics, ketamine and phencyclidine, selectively reduce excitation of central mammalian neurones by N‐methyl‐aspartate Spinal neurons in decerebrate or pentobarbitone-anaesthetized cats and rats | 1983 | Experimental study | |
| R-ketamine: a rapid-onset and sustained antidepressant without psychotomimetic side effects Mice | 2015 | Experimental study |