The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of total tertiary alkaloid fraction (TTAF) of Cissampelos sympodialis Eichler (Menispermaceae) on two animal models of depression: a) forced swim test and b) reserpine test. Treatment of mice with TTAF (12.5 mg/kg) reduced the total immobility time. It also reversed the reserpine-induced hypothermia, demonstrating an antidepressant effect in both models. Additionally, TTAF treatment did not modify the ambulation and rearing evaluated in open field test in order to investigate if the immobility time reduction found in the forced swimming test was caused by locomotive activity stimulation. Since warifteine is one of the main alkaloids present in the TTAF of C. sympodialis, and it has inhibitory activity of the phosphodiesterase enzyme, it may be responsible by the antidepressant effect found in the fraction studied.
Cissampelos sympodialis; Menispermaceae; antidepressant activity; total tertiary alkaloids fraction
