Characterisation of phenolic compounds of the ethyl acetate fraction from <i>Tabernaemontana catharinensis</i> and its potential antidepressant-like effect

<p>This study evaluates the antidepressant-like effect and analysed the qualitative and quantitative 74 phenolic standards of ethyl acetate fraction from <i>Tabernaemontana catharinensis</i> leaves. Acute administration of fraction in mice reduced the immobility time in forced swimming and tail suspension tests confirming its antidepressant-like activity. The anti-immobility effect elicited by this fraction was prevented by the pretreatment of mice with PCPA (100 mg kg⁻¹), ketanserin (5 mg kg⁻¹), SCH 23,390 (0.05 mg kg⁻¹) or yohimbine (1 mg kg⁻¹). A sub effective dose of the fraction produced a synergistic effect with fluoxetine (5 mg kg⁻¹). Chromatographic analysis identified 4-hydroxybenzoic and <i>p</i>-coumaric acids in the ethyl acetate fraction from <i>T. catharinensis</i>. Capillary electrophoresis presented 7.34 ± 0.02 mg g⁻¹ of <i>p</i>-coumaric acid concentration in the fraction. Therefore, it is possible that antidepressant-like effect elicited by ethyl acetate fraction from <i>T. catharinensis</i> be dependent on the <i>p</i>-coumaric acid.</p