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Pharmacopsychiatry 2001; 34(Suppl1): 8-10
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-15507
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Interleukin-6 Involvement in Antidepressant Action of Hypericum Perforatum

G. Calapai1 , A. Crupi2 , F. Firenzuoli3 , G. Inferrera1 , G. Ciliberto4 , A. Parisi1 , G. De Sarro4 , A. P. Caputi1
  • 1Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Torre Biologica Policlinico Universitario, Italy
  • 2Pharmalife-Italia, Airuno (LC) Italy
  • 3Service of Phytotherapy, S. Giuseppe Hospital, ASL n. Empoli, Italy
  • 4Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Reggio Calabria, Italy
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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Hypericum, a plant widely used as antidepressant has been shown to interact with the immune system. We studied the effects of the administration of the Hypericum perforatum extract Ph-50, a Hypericum extract, standardized to flavonoids (50 %) and containing 0.3 % of hypericin and 4.5 % of hyperforin in a forced swimming test and tryptophan, serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) diencephalic content using a high performance liquid chromatography method in male interleukin-6 (IL-6) knock-out (IL-6-/-) and wild type (IL-6+/+) mice. Hypericum extract (Ph-50; 500 mg/kg) oral acute administration reduced the immobility time of wild type, but not of knockout mice. Tryptophan content was not modified by Hypericum in all the animal groups. Serotonin and 5-HIAA diencephalic content was increased by Hypericum in both wild type and knockout mice. However, the increase observed in the wild type was greater than in knockout mice. These data indicate that IL-6 could be necessary to the antidepressant action of Hypericum, and that this cytokine (probably) mediates the effects of Hypericum through activation of the serotonin system.

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MD Dr. Gioacchino Calapai

Institute of Pharmacology
School of Medicine
University of Messina

Via Consolare Valeria 49

Policlinico Universitario - Torre Biologica 5° Piano

98124 - Messina

Italy

Phone: 090/2213646

Fax: 090/2213300

Email: gcalapai@unime.it