Identification of the main active antidepressant constituents in a traditional Turkish medicinal plant, Centaurea kurdica Reichardt

Ethnopharmacological relevance: In Turkish folk medicine, infusions and decoctions prepared from the flowers, fruits and aerial parts of Centaurea kurdica Reichardt (Asteraceae) are used as sedative and antidepressant-like effects of various sedative plants have been identified in many studies. The present study was designed to evaluate the antidepressant activity of this plant. Materials and methods: n-Hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and methanol (MeOH) extracts were prepared from the branches with leaves and also flowers of the plant. Antidepressant potentials of these extracts were researched by using the forced swimming test, tail suspension test, and antagonism of tetrabenazine-induced ptosis, hypothermia, and suppression of locomotor activity. Results: After determination of high antidepressant potentials of MeOH extract prepared from flowers and nhexane extract prepared from branches with leaves, isolation studies were carried out on these two extracts and the main active components were determined as beta-amyrin, mixture of beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol and costunolide for the branches with leaves and quercitrin, isoquercetin and naringenin-7-O-glucopyranoside for the flowers. Conclusions: As a result of the mechanistic and toxicity studies planned on this plant, it is thought that C. kurdica may be a glimmer of hope for depressed patients.