Neuropharmacological Characterization of Dioclea altissima Seed Lectin (DAL) in Mice: Evidence of Anxiolytic-like Effect Mediated by Serotonergic, GABAergic Receptors and NO Pathway

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (31) ◽  
pp. 3895-3904
Author(s):  
João R.C. Araújo ◽  
Adriana R. Campos ◽  
Marina de Barros M.V. Damasceno ◽  
Sacha A.A.R. Santos ◽  
Maria K.A. Ferreira ◽  
...  

Background: Plant lectins have shown promising biological activities in the central nervous system (CNS). Objective: This study evaluated the effect of DAL, a lectin isolated from the seeds of the Dioclea altissima species, having binding affinity to D-glucose or D-mannose residues, on mice behavior. Methods: Mice (n=6/group) were treated (i.p.) with DAL (0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg/kg) or vehicle and subjected to several tests (open field/OFT, marble-burying/MBT, hole-board/HBT, elevated plus maze/PMT, tail suspension/ TST, forced swimming/FST or rotarod/RRT). Pizotifen, cyproheptadine, flumazenil, L-NAME, 7-NI, Larginine or yohimbine were administered 15 min before DAL (0.5 mg/kg) and the animals were evaluated on PMT. It was also verified whether the DAL effect depended on its structural integrity and ability to interact with carbohydrates. Results: The results showed there were no neurobehavioral changes in the mice at the RRT, FST and locomotion in the OFT. DAL (0.25, 0.5 or 1 mg/kg) increased the behavior of grooming and rearing in the OFT, head dips in the HBT, pedalling in the TST and decreased the number of marbles hidden in the MBT. In the PMT, DAL (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) and Diazepam increased the frequency of entries in the open arms and the time of permanence in the open arms without affecting the locomotor activity. The effect of DAL was dependent on carbohydrate interaction and protein structure integrity and it prevented by pizotifen, cyproheptadine, flumazenil, L-NAME and 7-NI, but not by L-arginine or yohimbine. Conclusion: DAL was found to have an anxiolytic-like effect mediated by the 5-HT and GABAergic receptors and NO pathway.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 3479-3483
Author(s):  
Rupali A Patil

Behavioral models such as the elevated plus maze (EPM), light and dark method, Hole-board method, and Marble burying method were used to assess Methanolic extract of Mucuna pruriens seeds (MEMP) for anxiolytic function. MEMP in a dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg, p.o. was found to possess significant anxiolytic activity. In TST and FST, MEMP showed a substantial reduction in the time of immobility, indicating antidepressant action. MEMP significantly increased the latency for straub tail, extensor, myoclonic jerk, clonic convulsion and stupor in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and isoniazid-induced convulsion models. MEMP may be interfering with the level of monoamines; L-dopa, serotonin and histamine and produced antidepressant activity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
George L. da Silva Oliveira ◽  
José C. Correia L. da Silva ◽  
Ana P. dos Santos C. L da Silva ◽  
Chistiane M. Feitosa ◽  
Fernanda R. de Castro Almeida

Background: Central nervous system disorders such as anxiety, depression and epilepsy are characterized by sharing several molecular mechanisms in common and the involvement of the L-arginine/NO pathway in neurobehavioral studies with β-caryophyllene is still little discussed. Objectives: One of the objectives of the present study was to demonstrate the anxiolytic behavioral effect of β-caryophyllene (β-CBP) in female Swiss mice, as well as to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the results obtained. Methods: This study evaluated the neurobehavioral effects of β-CBP using the open field test, rota-rod test, elevated plus maze test, novelty suppressed feeding test, tail suspension test and forced swim test, as well as pilocarpine, pentylenetetrazole and isoniazid-induced epileptic seizure models. Results:: The results demonstrated that the neuropharmacological activities of β-CBP may involve benzodiazepine/GABAergic receptors, since the pre-treatment of β-CBP (200 mg/kg) associated with flumazenil (5 mg/kg, benzodiazepine receptor antagonist) and bicuculline (1 mg/kg, selective GABAA receptor antagonist) reestablished the anxiety parameters in the elevated plus-maze test, as well as the results of reduced latency to consume food in the novelty suppressed feeding test. In addition to benzodiazepine/GABAergic receptors, the neuropharmacological properties of β-CBP may be related to inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis, since pre-treatment with L-arginine (500- 750 mg/kg) reversed significantly the anxiolytic, antidepressant and anticonvulsant activities of β-CBP. Conclusion: The results obtained provide additional support in understanding the neuromolecular mechanisms underlying the anxiolytic, antidepressant and anticonvulsive properties of β-CBP in female Swiss mice.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Li ◽  
Qian-tong Liu ◽  
Yi Chen ◽  
Jie Liu ◽  
Jin-li Shi ◽  
...  

Quercitrin is a well-known flavonoid that is contained in Flos Albiziae, which has been used for the treatment of anxiety. The present study investigated the anxiolytic-like effects of quercitrin in experimental models of anxiety. Compared with the control group, repeated treatment with quercitrin (5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for seven days significantly increased the percentage of entries into and time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze. In the light/dark box test, quercitrin exerted an anxiolytic-like effect at 5 and 10 mg/kg. In the marble-burying test, quercitrin (5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) also exerted an anxiolytic-like effect. Furthermore, quercitrin did not affect spontaneous locomotor activity. The anxiolytic-like effects of quercitrin in the elevated plus maze and light/dark box test were blocked by the serotonin-1A (5-hydroxytryptamine-1A (5-HT1A)) receptor antagonist WAY-100635 (3.0 mg/kg, i.p.) but not by theγ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptor antagonist flumazenil (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.). The levels of brain monoamines (5-HT and dopamine) and their metabolites (5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and homovanillic acid) were decreased after quercitrin treatment. These data suggest that the anxiolytic-like effects of quercitrin might be mediated by 5-HT1Areceptors but not by benzodiazepine site of GABAAreceptors. The results of the neurochemical studies suggest that these effects are mediated by modulation of the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters.


2010 ◽  
Vol 193 (2) ◽  
pp. 288-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julián Tejada ◽  
Geraldine G. Bosco ◽  
Silvio Morato ◽  
Antonio C. Roque

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 12-23
Author(s):  
A.R. Abubakar ◽  
◽  
I.H. Sani ◽  
S. Malami ◽  
A.H. Yaro ◽  
...  

Background: Solanum aethiopicum (L.), family Solanaceae, is known as garden eggs. The fruit is used in the treatment of insomnia, diabetes and constipation. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate anxiolytic-like activity of fractions obtained from crude methanol extract of Solanum aethiopicum fruit. Method: Acute toxicity testing was conducted according to the OECD guidelines 420 via oral and intraperitoneal routes (ip). n-Hexane (HF), chloroform (CHF), ethyl-acetate (EAF), n-butanol (BF) and residual aqueous fraction (RAF) at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg ip were experimented using the open field, elevated plus maze, staircase, light dark box and hole-board tests. Results: Results: In open field test, there was statistically significant increase in frequency of central square entry by EAF 25mg/kg, 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg and RAF 25mg/kg, 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg all at p<0.05 compared to distilled water (D/W) group. Elevated plus maze test showed statistically significant increases in open arm entry and duration by CHF 25mg/kg, RAF 25mg/kg and 50mg/kg again at p<0.05. Also, in the staircase test, statistically significant decrease in frequency of rearing with no effect on step climbing was observed by RAF 25mg/kg (p< 0.05) compared to D/W. Light and dark box test produced increased light box entry and duration by EAF 25mg/kg, RAF 25mg/kg and 50mg/ kg at p<0.05. Furthermore, the hole -board test showed statistically significant increases in number of head dips by EAF 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg as well as RAF 25mg/kg, 50mg/kg and 100 mg/kg at p<0.05. Conclusion: The fractions obtained from Solanum aethiopicum fruits possesses anxiolytic-like activity.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kira DA Rienecker ◽  
Alexander T Chavasse ◽  
Kim Moorwood ◽  
Andrew Ward ◽  
Trevor Humby ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTMice lacking paternal expression of imprinted Grb10 show a number of social behaviour deficits, including an enhanced allogrooming phenotype. However, this could also index compulsive behaviour, and the increased whisker barbering seen in Grb10+/p mice has been suggested to be indicative of a trichotillomania-type behaviour. Here we test whether compulsive behaviour is a more general phenotype in Grb10+/p mice by examining marble burying at three different adult ages (2, 6 and 10 months). We also examined the mice for potentially confounding anxiety phenotypes using the elevated plus maze (EPM). Grb10+/p mice showed no difference from wild-type littermate controls on any measure in the marble burying test at any age. There was no difference in standard anxiety measures either, although Grb10+/p mice displayed more risk-taking behaviours on the EPM than wild-type mice. These data suggest that Grb10+/p mice are not generally more compulsive, and that the enhanced allogrooming is probably indicative of altered social behaviour. Furthermore, the altered behaviours seen on the EPM adds to other published findings suggesting that Grb10, and imprinted genes more generally, have a role in mediating risk-taking behaviour.


2010 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana S. Frassetto ◽  
Isis O. Alves ◽  
Marislane M. Santos ◽  
Ana E. S. Schmidt ◽  
Janaína J. Lopes ◽  
...  

INTRODUSTION: Sibutramine has been described as a drug recommended for treatment of obesity, since it has the ability to inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline in the central nervous system, thereby increasing energy expenditure. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the anxiogenic and anxiolytic effects of acute and chronic treatment with sibutramine in rats submitted to the task of the elevated plus-maze. METHODS: Diazepam was used as a positive control for the anxiolytic effect, and the task of the elevated plus-maze showed sensitivity to detect the effect. In the chronic treatment, sibutramine was ingested for a period of two months. RESULTS: The acute and chronic treatments at the studied dose, which is described to produce a maximum effect of anti-obesity in rats, did not interfere with anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The acute and chronic administration of sibutramine is not related to anxiolytic or anxiogenic effects.


2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hila M Ene ◽  
Nirit Z Kara ◽  
Noa Barak ◽  
Tal Reshef Ben-Mordechai ◽  
Haim Einat

ObjectiveA number of atypical antipsychotic drugs were demonstrated to have anxiolytic effects in patients and in animal models. These effects were mostly suggested to be the consequence of the drugs’ affinity to the serotonin system and its receptors. Asenapine is a relatively new atypical antipsychotic that is prescribed for schizophrenia and for bipolar mania. Asenapine has a broad pharmacological profile with significant effects on serotonergic receptors, hence it is reasonable to expect that asenapine may have some anxiolytic effects. The present study was therefore designed to examine possible effects of asenapine on anxiety-like behaviour of mice.MethodMale ICR mice were repeatedly treated with 0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg injections of asenapine and then tested in a battery of behavioural tests related to anxiety including the open-field test, elevated plus-maze (EPM), defensive marble burying and hyponeophagia tests. In an adjunct experiment, we tested the effects of acute diazepam in the same test battery.ResultsThe results show that diazepam reduced anxiety-like behaviour in the EPM, the defensive marble burying test and the hyponeophagia test but not in the open field. Asenapine has anxiolytic-like effects in the EPM and the defensive marble burying tests but had no effects in the open-field or the hyponeophagia tests. Asenapine had no effects on locomotor activity.ConclusionThe results suggest that asenapine may have anxiolytic-like properties and recommends that clinical trials examining such effects should be performed.


F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 1452
Author(s):  
Conner D. Reynolds ◽  
Taylor S. Jefferson ◽  
Meagan Volquardsen ◽  
Ashvini Pandian ◽  
Gregory D. Smith ◽  
...  

Background: The piracetam analog, aniracetam, has recently received attention for its cognition enhancing potential, with minimal reported side effects.  Previous studies report the drug to be effective in both human and non-human models with pre-existing cognitive dysfunction, but few studies have evaluated its efficacy in healthy subjects. A previous study performed in our laboratory found no cognitive enhancing effects of oral aniracetam administration 1-hour prior to behavioral testing in naïve C57BL/6J mice. Methods: The current study aims to further evaluate this drug by administration of aniracetam 30 minutes prior to testing in order to optimize any cognitive enhancing effects. In this study, all naïve C57BL/6J mice were tested in tasks of delayed fear conditioning, novel object recognition, rotarod, open field, elevated plus maze, and marble burying. Results: Across all tasks, animals in the treatment group failed to show enhanced learning when compared to controls. Conclusions: These results provide further evidence suggesting that aniracetam conveys no therapeutic benefit to subjects without pre-existing cognitive dysfunction.


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 292
Author(s):  
E. B. GARCIA ◽  
Y. S. G. PINHEIRO ◽  
N. M. FELIX ◽  
J. M. P. LOUREIRO ◽  
F. C. AMENDOEIRA ◽  
...  

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