Objectives: Campomanesia pubescens (DC) O.BERG (Myrtaceae) fruits contain high levels of flavonoids and are widely consumed by the South American population. In the central nervous system (CNS), some flavonoids act as modulators of GABA-A receptors and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, resulting in anxiolytic antidepressants effects, respectively. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of ethanolic extract of C. pubescens fruits (EEFCP) in rats.Methods: In order to prove the antidepressant effect of the EEFCP, rats were submitted to the chronic mild stress model, to the sucrose preference test (SPT), and the forced swimming test. To test the anxiolytic effects, the Elevated plus-maze (EPM), open field (OF), and Marble-Burying models were used.Results: After 2 weeks of treatment, imipramine 25 mg/kg, EEFCP 250 mg/kg, and EEFCP 500 mg/kg reversed the anhedonic behavior measured by SPT and significantly reduced the immobility time of animals under stress. In addition, treatment with diazepam 2 mg/kg, EEFCP 250 mg/kg, and EEFCP 500 mg/kg increased the percentage of entries and time spent on the open arms of the EPM, increased locomotion, rearing, and reduced the grooming time in OF.Discussion: The chemical analysis of the EEFCP indicated high content of flavonoids and the behavioral analysis revealed an antidepressant and anxiolytic effect, suggesting that these phytochemicals may be involved with these actions in the CNS.
Keywords: Animal models; Antidepressants; Anxiety; Anxiolytics; Campomanesia pubescens; Depression; Flavonoids; Natural products.