Sedative and anxiolytic effect of the methanolic extract of Erythrina edulis Triana ex Micheli in mice (original) (raw)
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Anxiolytic activity of methanolic extract of Erythrina variegata Linn. leaves in Wistar rats
Research in Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2020
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Erythrina variegata (Fabaceae) is widely used as a tranquilizer and/or sedative in Traditional system of medicine. Aim of study: The present study was aimed to investigate anxiolytic effects of methanolic extract of leaves of Erythrina variegata. Materials and methods: The anxiolytic activity of methanolic extract of Erythrina variegata leaves at doses (100 and 200 mg/kg; p.o) was studied by elevated plus maze model and Rota rod test in rats. Results: In elevated plus maze test, methanolic extract of Erythrina variegata produced significant reduction in onset of anxiety and the effect was comparable to that produced by diazepam. In the Rota rod test in rats, Erythrina variegata (200 mg/kg) showed significant muscle relaxant property. The effect of the extract was comparable to that of the standard drug diazepam (1 mg/kg). The results of the present study specified that the methanolic extract of Erythrina variegata leaves keeps significant anxiolytic like activity. Conclusion: The results recommended that chronic administration of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Erythrina variegata exerts an anxiolytic-like effect on rats, and it may serve as a new approach for the treatment of anxiety.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2008
Introduction: In Brazil, Erythrina velutina (Fabaceae) is widely used as a tranquilizer and/or sedative, and its extract exerts an anxiolytic-like effect profile in animal models, although these results may be caused by its sedative or amnesic effects. Aims, materials and methods: Thus, this study evaluated the effect of acute and chronic (23-26 days) administrations of the hydroalcoholic extract of the stem bark of Erythrina velutina (orally) in mice submitted to the following tests: elevated plus-maze, forced swim, spontaneous locomotor activity, and habituation to active chamber. Chlordiazepoxide and imipramine were used as standard drugs. Results: In the elevated plus-maze test, chronic, but not acute, Erythrina velutina (100 mg/kg) administration increased the percentage of open arm entries, an effect also seen in both acute and chronic treatments with chlordiazepoxide (7.5 mg/kg). In the forced swim test, only imipramine (25 mg/kg) decreased immobility time. Impairment of habituation was seen only with acute imipramine administration and with the lowest doses of Erythrina velutina extract tested in acute (10 mg/kg) and chronic (50 mg/kg) administrations. Conclusions: These results suggest that chronic administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of the stem bark of Erythrina velutina exerts an anxiolytic-like effect on mice, and it could serve as a new approach for the treatment anxiety, although it may have an amnesic effect at low doses.
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2003
There are more than 100 known species of Erythrina in the tropics. From those, approximately half have been studied. 1) Erythrina plants are known to produce alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenes. 1-3) Several species of Erythrina are used in folk medicine due to their tranquilizer effects. 4) Alkaloid fractions from Erythrina americana have been shown to possess anticonvulsant, hypotensive, hypnotic, and analgesic effects. 5) The tranquilizer effects of crude alkaloid fractions from Erythrina americana were investigated in a model that provokes aggressiveness by visual isolation. 4) The alkaloids diminished aggressive behavior in a way similar to the benzodiazepine (BZD) diazepam (DZP), used as a control. Potential therapeutic activity has also been reported for other species of Erythrina. Thus antiviral and antibacterial activity has been shown for Erythrina glauca 3) and Erythrina lysistemon 6) and analgesic and antiinflammatory effects were reported for an aqueous extract from Erythrina senegalensis. Erythrina mulungu (EM) (Leguminosae-Papilionaceae), popularly known as mulungu, is a medium-sized wellbranched tree native to Southern Brazil. 8) It produces a profusion of reddish flowers at the end of its branches. Since its flowers are the same color as coral, the plant is sometimes also called "coral tree." In herbal medicine, a leaf or bark decoction or tincture from mulungu is considered to calm agitation and other disorders of the nervous system, including insomnia and depression. 9) As with other species of Erythrina, alkaloids appear to be one of the main constituents of EM. Recently, the supposed therapeutic properties of EM have begun to be evaluated in preclinical studies. Thus, in a previous study performed in our laboratory, 10) the effects of acute treatment with a water-alcohol extract from the inflorescence of EM were investigated in rats submitted to models specifically related to different types of anxiety disorder: the ele- 1538 We investigated the effects of chronic oral treatment with a water-alcohol extract from the inflorescence of Erythrina mulungu (Leguminosae-Papilionaceae) (EM, 50, 100, 200 mg/kg) in rats submitted to different anxiety models: the elevated T-maze (ETM, for inhibitory avoidance and escape measurements), the light/dark transition, and the cat odor test. These models were selected for their capacity to elicit specific subtypes of anxiety disorders as recognized in clinical practice. Treatment with EM impaired inhibitory avoidance latencies in a way similar to the reference drug, diazepam (DZP). Additionally, both EM and DZP increased the number of transitions and the time spent in the lighted compartment of the light/dark transition model. Furthermore, neither EM nor DZP altered behavioral responses of rats to a cloth impregnated with cat odor. In contrast to DZP, however, EM also altered ETM one-way escape. These results were not due to motor alterations since no significant effects were detected in the number of crossings or rearings in the arena. The present observations suggest that chronic EM exerts anxiolytic-like effects in defensive behaviors related to generalized anxiety and panic disorder. Although alkaloids appear to be one of the main constituents of EM, the possible mechanisms through which the extract exerts its anxiolytic action should be further investigated.
Pharmacological Activity and Phytochemical Studies of Erythrina crista-galli Extracts
idecefyn.com.ar
Erythrina crista-galli is a tree of Fabaceae family, native of the Rio de la Plata region. Its aerial parts are used in traditional medicine because of its sedative properties. In order to validate this traditional use aqueous and organic extracts of the leaves were tested by the Hippocratic Screening Test, Spontaneous Locomotors Activity and Potentiation of Pentobarbital Sleeping Time Test. Two extracts from all essayed resulted in a statistically significant depression in CNS. Bio-guided fractionation of the extracts using the Motility Test in mice was performed by different chromatographic techniques. Two purified fractions, both free of alkaloids, showed preliminary sedative properties. The chemical structure determination of their active constituents and their whole pharmacological profile are now in progress.
Anxiolytic-like effects of erythrinian alkaloids from erythrina suberosa
2011
Recebido em 14/7/10; aceito em 25/11/10; publicado na web em 25/2/11 Two alkaloids, erysodine (1) and erysothrine (2) were isolated from the flowers of a Pakistani medicinal plant, Erythrina suberosa. These compounds were investigated for anxiolytic properties, and the results showed significant effect, in an acute oral treatment with 1-2, which were suspended in saline (NaCl 0.9%) plus DMSO 1%, and evaluated in 122 Swiss male mice exposed to two tests of anxiety -the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and the light/dark transition model (LDTM).
Anticonvulsant activity of hydroalcoholic extracts from Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007
The anticonvulsant effects of hydroalcoholic extracts (HAEs) from the stem bark of Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and strychnine-induced seizure tests and the potentiation of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice with the extracts were examined in this study. These medicinal plants belong to the Fabaceae family and are popularly used in Brazil for their effects on the central nervous system. The extracts of Erythrina velutina (intraperitoneally or orally) and Erythrina mulungu (intraperitoneally) were administered in mice at single doses (200 or 400 mg/kg). While Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu did not exhibit any protector effect in PTZ-induced seizures, at any dose, an increase in the latency of convulsion and in the death time was observed with both doses and routes of Erythrina velutina and at higher dose of Erythrina mulungu, in strychnine-induced seizure. No alteration was observed with Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu on sleeping latency at both doses as compared to control (362.8 ± 59.5). However, the sleeping time was increased in both plants as compared to control (943.8 ± 129.6). In conclusion, we showed that the hydroalcoholic extracts of Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu have anticonvulsant effects only in the strychnine-induced seizure model, suggesting their possible action in glycine system and a potentiation of pentobarbital sleeping time, suggesting depressant action in the central nervous system.
Central nervous system effects of the crude extract of Erythrina velutina on rodents
The aqueous extract (AE) of Erythrina velutina prolonged the sleep duration induced by sodium pentobarbital (control: 6.4 ± 1.2 min; extract 10 mg/kg, 47.1 ± 3.9 min; extract 100 mg/kg, 109.4 ± 7.2 min; F = 243, P < 0.001). In the open field, the extract at the doses of 10 and 50 mg/kg did not changed the number of crossings, rearings nor groomings. On the other hand, at the dose of 200 mg/kg it reduced the number of crossings (q = 6.25, P < 0.05) and groomings (q = 3.91, P < 0.05). When exposed during three consecutive days to the open field, the control animals showed habituation for crossings (F = 17.56, P < 0.001) and rearings (F = 14.01, P < 0.001). The same was not true for animals treated with 10 mg/kg of the extract (crossings: F = 3.59, P > 0.05; rearings: F = 3.62, P > 0.05). At the same dose, the extract blocked the acquisition of foot shock memory (P = 0.9219) when compared to the control values (P = 0.0078). Our data showed that the crude extract of Erythrina velutina at lower doses interferes with mnemonic process for different tasks, while at higher doses, the sedative and neuromuscular blocking actions are the main effects.
Central activity of hydroalcoholic extracts from Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu in mice
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 2004
This work studied the central behavioural effects of hydroalcoholic extracts from the stem bark of Erythrina velutina and Erythrina mulungu on the elevated plus maze, open field, and rota rod tests in mice. These medicinal plants belong to the Fabaceae family and are popularly used in Brazil for their effects on the central nervous system. Single doses of the extracts were administered orally (200, 400 or 800 mg kg ¡1 ) or intraperitoneally (200 or 400 mg kg ¡1 ) to female mice. A reduction of the locomotor activity was observed in the open field test with both hydroalcoholic extracts after intraperitoneal treatment with all doses, but only with the highest dose after oral administration. In addition, oral and intraperitoneal administration of the extracts decreased the incidence of rearing and grooming. Decreases in the number of entries in the open (NEOA) and closed (NECA) arms of the elevated plus maze were observed after the administration of the highest dose (800 mg kg ¡1 , p.o.) of both hydroalcoholic extracts, and this effect may be due to the decrease in locomotor activity. These hydroalcoholic extracts failed to affect the motor coordination in the rota rod test. In conclusion, we showed that the hydroalcoholic extracts of E. velutina and E. mulungu have depressant effects on the central nervous system, which, at least partially, corroborates the popular use of these species as tranquilizers in Brazilian popular medicine.
Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2007
The effects of acute oral administration of erythrinian alkaloids, i.e. (؉)-a a-hydroxy-erysotrine, erythravine and (؉)-11a a-hydroxy-erythravine isolated from the flowers of Erythrina mulungu were investigated in two animal models of anxiety in mice-the light-dark transition model (LDTM) and the elevated plus-maze (EPM). In the LDTM, erythravine (3, 10 mg/kg) and (؉)-11a a-hydroxy-erythravine (10 mg/kg) increased the time spent by the animals in the illuminated compartment and (؉)-11a a-hydroxy-erythravine (3 mg/kg) increased the number of transitions between compartments of the LDTM, suggesting an anxiolytic-like effect of these erythrinian alkaloids. Nevertheless, the third alkaloid studied, (؉)-a a-hydroxy-erysotrine, did not change any behavioral response with the range of doses used (3-10 mg/kg). Since the oral administration of the crude extract of E. mulungu (EM) (100-400 mg/kg) did not modify the conventional measures of anxiety in the EPM, this animal model was not chosen to evaluate the anxiolytic properties of the isolated alkaloids. These results suggest that the alkaloids erythravine and (؉)-11a a-hydroxy-erythravine are responsible for the anxiolytic effects of the crude extract of E. mulungu.