Process for increasing the effects of monoamine oxidase inhibitors by means of catechol-omicron-methyl transferase

A crude O-methyl transferase enzyme is prepared by treating comminuted livers of rats at 0 DEG C. with deionized water and 0.9% potassium chloride. After homogenization and centrifugation, the supernatant liquid is separated and stored at - 15 DEG to - 20 DEG C. Specifications 913,898, 918,217 and 955,849 are referred to.ALSO:A composition for controlling depression in warm blooded animals comprising in unit dosage form 5 to 500 mg. of monoamine p oxidase inhibitor (A) and 1 to 200 mg. of O-methyl transferase inhibitor (B) and a pharmaceutical carrier. Compounds (A) may be a -methylphenethylhydrazine, isonicotinic acid 2-isopropyl hydrazide, 1-benzyl-2 (5-methyl-3-isoxazolylcarbonyl) hydrazine, etryptamine, b -phenylethylhydrazine, N-isonicotinyl-N1-[b -(N-benzylcarboxamido) ethyl] hydrazine and wherein R is hydrogen, chlorine, bromine or fluorine; R1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethoxycarbonyl; R2 is propargyl or cyclopropyl and wherein if R is halogen, at least two halogens are present in the phenyl group. Compounds (B) may be an aminoalkylaminoacridine, methapyrilene, tripelennamine, 2[2-(a -pyridine ethyl) 2-therylamino] pyridine, 2[2-(a -pyridine ethyl) 2-thenylamino] pyridine, 2[2-(a -pyridine ethyl) 2-thenylamino] piperazine, 4-amino-6-dimethylamino-2-methylquinoline; N, N-di-2-pyridine homopiperazine and 1-methyl-6, 7-dimethoxy-3, 4-dihydro-iso-quinoline. An example is given of a tablet containing quinacrine and N-methyl-N-proporgylbenzylamine HCl. The composition may be in form of tablets, capsules, granules, ampoules andtroches. Specifications 913,898, 918,217 and 955,849 are referred to.