Trichilia catigua bark
Trichilia catigua is known as a natural aphrodisiac in Brazil and called catuaba. Trichilia catigua is also found in an aphrodisiac herbal formula called Catuama.
Antidepressant-like effects of Trichilia catigua (Catuaba) extract: evidence
for dopaminergic-mediated mechanisms.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2005 October. Campos MM, Fernandes ES, Ferreira J,
Santos AR, Calixto JB. Department of Pharmacology, Center of Biological
Sciences, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário,
88049-900 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
The present study analyzed the possible antidepressant-like effects of the
Brazilian medicinal plant, Trichilia catigua, in rodents. The
antidepressant-like effects of Trichilia catigua extract were assessed in two
species of rodents (mice and rats) by means of in vivo (forced swimming test)
and in vitro (monoamine reuptake and release in synaptosomal preparations)
approaches. Acute oral treatment with the extract of Trichilia catigua produced
antidepressant-like effects in the forced swimming model in both mice and rats.
Anti-immobility actions of Trichilia catigua extract in mice were significantly
reversed by haloperidol or by chlorpromazine, but not by pimozide, ketanserin,
spiroxatrine or p-chlorophenylalanine. In vitro, Trichilia catigua extract
concentration-dependently inhibited the uptake and increased the release of
serotonin, and especially of dopamine, from rat brain synaptosomal preparations.
The present study provides convincing evidence for a dopamine-mediated
antidepressant-like effect of the active principle(s) present in the
hydroalcoholic extract of Trichilia catigua in mice and rats when in vivo and in
vitro strategies were employed.
Trichilia catigua chemical composition
A mixture of flavalignan cinchonains Ia and Ib is found in the bark of Trichilia
catigua. This bark also has omega-phenyl alkanes, omega-phenyl alkanoic acids,
omega-phenyl-gamma-lactones, alkyl-gamma-lactones, alkenyl-gamma-lactone,
phenylpropanoid-substituted epicatechins catiguanin A and catiguanin B, and a
mixture of fatty acids ranging from C-14 to C-26 such as beta-sitosterol,
stigmasterol and campesterol.
Trichilia species
Trichilia catigua
Trichilia clausseni
Trichilia pallida
Aphrodisiac herbs available over
the counter
These include
Maca, tongkat ali, butea superba, cnidium monnieris,
tribulus terrestris extract, mucuna pruriens, horny goat weed, avena sativa,
LJ100, muira puama, catuaba, ginger, cistanches, and yohimbe bark extract.
Aphrodisiacs natural home