A comparative study of antidepressant and diuretic activity of semi-mild hawthorn liquid extracts

Abstract

Introduction . The raw materials of the hawthorn plants (Crataegus L.) are flowers and fruits that are used as cardiotonic medicines. Leaves and shoots are prospective types of hawthorn raw materials. Currently, 12 species of hawthorn plants are used, but not all of them are widely grown on the territory of the Russian Federation. At the same time in our country is widely cultivated North American Quebec hawthorn - Crataegus submollis Sarg. The purpose of this work is a comparative study of the antidepressant activity and diuretic action of liquid extracts based on flowers, shoots, leaves and fruits of Quebec hawthorn. Materials and methods. The Desperation test was used to determine the antidepressant activity of liquid extracts based on flowers, fruits, shoots and leaves of Quebec hawthorn. Diuretic activity was determined in chronic experiments by collecting 4 and 24 hours portions of urine. Results. The study of the comparative antidepressant activity of liquid extracts based on flowers, leaves, shoots and fruits of Quebec hawthorn allowed to reveal antidepressant activity for all studied medicines comparable with amitriptyline at a dose of 5 mg/kg. In this liquid extracts of flowers, shoots and leaves of hawthorn semi-soft showed antidiuretic properties. Conclusions. Liquid extracts based on flowers, leaves, shoots and fruits of Quebec hawthorn have a neurotropic effect. Antidepressant activity of herbal preparations increases in the following series: liquid extract of Quebec hawthorn leaves - liquid extract of Quebec hawthorn fruits - liquid extract of Quebec hawthorn shoots - liquid extract of Quebec hawthorn flowers.