Effect of St. Johns wort (Hypericum perforatum) standardized extract on leukocyte phagocytosis in rat model of depression
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2004 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Psychiatrie |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Pharmacology and pharmaceutical chemistry |
| Keywords | depression; Hypericum perforatum; LI160; rat; olfactory bulbectomy; immunity; leukocyte phagocytosis |
| Description | The effects of St. Johns wort (standardized herbal extract LI 160) on leukocyte phagocytic activity in the rodent model of depression, the olfactory bulbectomized (OB) rat were studied. The activity of leukocyte zymosan-induced phagocytosis was examined via measurement of chemiluminiscence potentiated by luminol. The results confirm an antidepressant-like behavioural impact of LI 160 (100 mg/kg/day, 10 days i.p.) in the OB rat model of depression. In the OB rats there was a signifficant suppression of the leukocyte phagocytic activity in comparison with the sham rats, which was disinhibited (p<0.05) by LI 160 (100 mg/kg/day, 10 days i.p.). However the dose used was generally immunostimulatory active as the increase in leukocyte phagocytosis (p<0.001) was found also in the control group of rats. This immunostimulant effect of the St. Johns wort standardized extract LI 160 might be important in clinics and deserves further investigation. |
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