Várias espécies de Anona (Annonaceae) são utilizadas na medicina tradicional mexicana por seu antiansiedade anticonvulsiva e propriedades tranquilizantes. Tem sido relatado que os alcaloides isolados a partir de algumas espécies de Anona têm afinidade para receptores serotoninérgicos 5-HT1A e modular à transmissão dopaminérgica, que está envolvida em distúrbios depressivos.Nesta revisão, mostraram-se os resultados do efeito antidepressivo do extrato alcaloide das partes aéreas de Anona cherimólia (TA) em camundongos. O efeito antidepressivo foi avaliado no teste de natação forçada. Para elucidar um possível mecanismo de ação, as experiências de sinergismo com drogas antidepressivas, tais como a imipramina (IMI), clomipramina (CLIMI) e fluoxetina (FLX), foram realizadas. O teor de neurotransmissor (DA: serotonina e dos seus metabólitos, HVA:: dopamina, 5HT ácido homovanílico e 5HIAA :5-hidroxiindoleacético) em todo o cérebro de ratinhos foi também determinado pelo método de HPLC.Os resultados mostraram que o tratamento repetido com ácido tartárico produzido com antidepressivo provocou efeitos semelhantes em ratinhos. Este efeito não foi relacionado a um aumento da atividade locomotora. Administração da TA facilitou o efeito antidepressivo do IMI e CLIMI bem como o aumento do volume de negócios de DA e 5-HT. Os alcaloides de: 1,2-dimetoxi-5, 6,6 a, 7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzoquinoline-3,8,9,10-tetraol, anonaine, liriodenina, e nornuciferine foram os principais constituintes da TA.

Several species of Annona (Annonaceae) are used in traditional Mexican medicine by their anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant and tranquilizing properties. It has been reported that the alkaloids isolated from some species of the Annona have affinity to serotonergic 5-HT1A receptors and modulate dopaminergic transmission, which is involved in depressive disorders. In this review it is showed the results of the antidepressant-like effect of an alkaloid extract from the aerial parts of Annona cherimola (TA) in mice. The antidepressant-like effect was evaluated in the forced swimming test. To elucidate a possible mechanism of action, experiments of synergism with antidepressant drugs, such as imipramine (IMI), clomipramine (CLIMI), and fluoxetine (FLX), were carried out. The neurotransmitter content (DA: dopamine, 5HT: serotonin and its metabolites, HVA: homovanillic acid and 5HIAA:5-hydroxyindoleacetic) in the whole brain of mice were also determined by HPLC method. The results showed that repeated treatment with TA produced antidepressant-like effects in mice. This effect was not related to an increase in locomotor activity. Administration of TA facilitated the antidepressant effect of IMI and CLIMI as well as increased the turnover of DA and 5-HT. The alkaloids: 1,2-dimethoxy-5, 6.6 to 7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzoquinoline-3,8,9,10-tetraol, anonaine, liriodenine, and nornuciferine were the main constituents of TA.

The aim of the present study was to show the most relevant aspects of the flavonoids such as their origin, sources, chemical structures, and metabolism in the body human. We offer a brief review about their antiallergic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. This review shows their effects on CNS and evidences their pharmacologic potential in the therapeutics of the mental disorders. Flavonoids may have existed in nature for over 1 billion years and thus have interacted with evolving organisms. These compounds are molecules of low molecular mass, abundant in all berries and citric fruits, chocolate, nuts, red wine, and several medicinal plants. Flavonoids interact with several enzymes responsible for the transport of xenobiotics to the brain, which are considering modifiers of the biological response. Perhaps the most studied have been their anti-oxidant properties, which have met reflected in his capacity to protect to the cells of the oxidative stress, implicated several pathologies associated with aging, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In the last 30 years, a intensive research about the effects of the flavonoids on CNS has been carried out; in this regard, flavonoids have showed effective effects as anxiolytic, antidepressants, and anticonvulsive drugs, and although their actions in the CNS occur through a variety of interactions with different receptors and signaling pathways, it has been demonstrated that these effects are mediated principally by GABA, in particular GABA A receptors, which these has led them to being postulates as a new benzodiazepines family, but without the side effects of these.

El propósito de esta revisión fue describir los aspectos más relevantes de los flavonoides como su origen, sus fuentes y metabolismo, sus propiedades farmacológicas como antialérgicos, anticancerosos, anti-inflamatorios, analgésicos. También revisamos sus efectos sobre el SNC poniendo en evidencia su potencial farmacológico en la terapéutica de los trastornos mentales. Los flavonoides son sustancias de bajo peso molecular que han estado presentes en la naturaleza durante millones de años. El hombre los consume en la dieta ya que están presentes de forma abundante en los vegetales, las frutas rojas como las fresas, zarzamoras, frutas cítricas, el chocolate, las nueces, el vino tinto y en varias plantas medicinales. Estos compuestos poseen una amplia gama de actividades farmacológicas entre las que destacan sus propiedades anti-oxidantes, las cuales les confieren capacidad de proteger a las células del estrés oxidativo relacionado con patologías asociadas al envejecimiento, como las enfermedades de Alzheimer y Parkinson. En los últimos 30 años se ha realizado una intensa investigación sobre sus acciones en el SNC, entre las que sobresalen sus propiedades como ansiolíticos, sedantes, antidepresivos y anticonvulsivos. Se ha demostrado que estos efectos son mediados principalmente por los receptores GABA, en particular los receptores GABA A, por lo que los flavonoides han sido reconocidos como una nueva familia de benzodiazepinas, con la ventaja de no presentar los efectos colaterales que éstas producen.