Central effects of isolated fractions from the root of Petiveria alliacea L. (tipi) in mice

Neuroprotective effects of Petiveria alliacea on scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment mouse model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Petiveria alliacea L., commonly known as macura and gully root, is an important medicinal plant used in the Caribbean and Central America to treat ailments associated to the central nervous system, including poor memory.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To assess the effects of the P. alliacea leaves methanol fraction (PMF) on a scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment mouse model related to acetylcholinesterase activity and oxidative stress.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

After PMF administration at doses of 500 or 900 mg/kg, cognitive ability was evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM), Y-maze (YM) and novel object recognition (NOR) tests. The mouse brain tissue was further assessed for acetylcholinesterase activity and antioxidant activity. Levels of oxidative stress were also evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione activity. Acute toxicity was also evaluated.

RESULTS

PMF led to memory improvement in the behavioral tests in mice with scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment. Moreover, PMF inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity and showed antioxidant potential that in turn attenuated cholinergic degradation. Additionally, PMF increased glutathione levels and glutathione reductase activity and reduced MDA levels in the brain. Moreover, no acute toxicity was detected with the use of PMF.

CONCLUSION

In a mouse model of scopolamine-induced cognitive deficit, PMF exhibited protective effects, decreasing oxidative damage and regulating cholinergic function in the brain bearing significant memory enhancing potency. These data suggest that PMF is a promising candidate for developing therapies for neurodegenerative disorders.

Amazonian Plants: A Global Bibliometric Approach to Petiveria alliacea L. Pharmacological and Toxicological Properties

Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae) holds significant importance in the Amazon region, where it has been traditionally utilized in folk medicine. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis using conventional metrics, combined with a critical content review of its pharmacological and toxicological properties, to identify gaps in the existing literature that require further investigation. Our investigation identified a total of 55 articles that met the inclusion criteria for this study. Remarkably, Brazil emerged as the primary contributor within the scope of this review, indicating a strong presence of research from this country. Furthermore, professional scientific societies have played a pivotal role in facilitating the dissemination of scientific findings through specialist journals, fostering the sharing of research work within the community. Analysis of keyword co-occurrence revealed that "Petiveria alliacea", "plant extract", and "guatemala" were the most frequently encountered terms, indicating their significance within the literature. In terms of study designs, in vivo and in vitro were the predominant types observed, highlighting their prevalence in this field of study. Our study also identified a lack in knowledge yet to be investigated.

Metabolic exploration of the developmental abnormalities and neurotoxicity of Esculentoside B, the main toxic factor in Phytolaccae radix

P: radix is a perennial herb, and its extracts have various biological properties that make it a potential candidate for the treatment of tumors, edema, and lymphatic stasis. However, the main factor contributing to its toxicity are not clear. Here, we used a zebrafish toxicological model to study the main toxicity factor of P. radix and explore the potential mechanisms involved. The results revealed that Esculentoside B was the major toxic factor of P. radix. Exposure of zebrafish larvae to Esculentoside B caused developmental abnormalities, neurotoxicity and altered locomotor behavior. The combination of AChE activity and the expression levels of genes relevant to CNS development demonstrated that Esculentoside B is neurotoxic to zebrafish larvae, impairs their CNS development, and that AChE may be a toxic target of Esculentoside B. Metabolomic analysis has revealed that Esculentoside B exposure can disrupt D-Amino acid metabolism, protein export, autophagy, and mTOR signaling pathways in zebrafish larvae. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying EsB-induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish, which can facilitate further research and development of P. radix for safe consumption.

Plants of the Phytolaccaceae family with antimicrobial activity: A systematic review

Phytolaccaceae is a plant family of the order Caryophyllales, which includes species used in traditional medicine to treat diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate Phytolaccaceae family plants with potential antimicrobial action, through a systematic review. The study was conducted following the criteria of PRISMA protocol. The search was performed in the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and LILACS, in March 2021. The search strategy used free descriptors and terms, limiting articles to the English language, regardless of publication year. The risk of bias and the quality of publications were based on the CONSORT checklist, modified for in vitro studies and SYRCLE's RoB tool for in vivo study. Five independent judges performed quality assessments of publications and risk of bias analysis. Ninety-five publications were retrieved from the databases and, after screening and eligibility criteria, 22 articles remained, from 1998 to 2019. In the selected studies, the plants were obtained from eight countries. In vivo and in vitro studies of extracts from the Phytolaccaceae family plants, evaluating antibacterial (8 publications), antifungal (8), anti-Trypanosoma (2), anti-Leishmania (2), antiviral (1), and antiamoebic (1) activities, are included. The plant species identified belong to genera Petiveria, Phytolacca, Gallesia, Trichostigma, and Seguieria. The risk of bias in the 22 publications both in vitro and in vitro was suboptimal. The evidence obtained showed that the Phytolaccaceae family, a source of plants with antimicrobial action, can serve as a basis for the creation of new herbal medicines, expanding the possibility of treatment for infectious diseases and stimulating their preservation and biodiversity. However, more high-quality studies are needed to establish the clinical efficacy of the plant.

Acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity properties of Petiveria alliacea L

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Petiveria alliacea L. is traditionally used as a folk medical herb in different regions of the world to treat different ailments including those related to the central nervous system. Previous studies have proved that extracts from P. alliacea show improvement in memory and learning process.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To study extracts, fractions, subfractions and isolated compounds from P. alliacea on acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Extracts obtained with different polarity solvents and fractions from P. alliacea were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase by Ellman method. This screening allowed the selection of the methanol fraction as the most active and continued a bio-guided study. The compounds identified in methanol fraction were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Identification of (E)-Tagetone was performed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. Moreover, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and ABTS methods, and the cell viability was assessed by WST-1 method.

RESULTS

Two extracts of different polarity were obtained from P. alliacea. The methanol extract and its fraction showed an inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase; however, methanol fraction was found to be most potent with 86.5 % AChE inhibition. The methanol fraction also showed antioxidant activity and was not toxic on SH-SY5Y cells. Different compounds including capreoside, narcissin, indane, (-)-isocaryophyllene, (-)-β-pinene, (E)-tagetone and peonidin 3-O-sambubioside 5-O-glucoside were identified.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report indicating that P. alliacea methanol fraction and its subfractions bear acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity properties. This work establishes the basis for further studies in the development of new therapies for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer 's disease.

Medicinal plants used in traditional Mayan medicine for the treatment of central nervous system disorders: An overview

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

For thousands of years, different cultural groups have used and transformed natural resources for medicinal purposes focused on psychological or neurological conditions. Some of these are recognized as central nervous system (CNS) disorders and diseases, whereas other ethnopsychiatric interpretations are explained in culture-specific terms. In traditional Mayan medicine, several herbs have been part of treatments and rituals focused on cultural and ethnomedical concepts.

AIM OF REVIEW

This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the medicinal plants used in Mesoamerica by traditional healers and Mayan groups to CNS disorders and associate the traditional use with demonstrated pharmacological evidence to establish a solid foundation for directing future research.

METHODS

A systematic search for primary sources of plant use reports for traditional CNS-related remedies of Mesoamerica were obtained from library catalogs, thesis and scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar; and Science Direct), and entered in a database with data analyzed in terms of the usage frequency, use by ethnic groups, plant endemism, and pharmacological investigation.

RESULTS

A total of 155 plants used for ethnopsychiatric conditions in Mesoamerica by Mayan groups were found, encompassing 127 native species. Of these, only 49 native species have reported in vitro or in vivo pharmacological analyses. The most commonly reported ethnopsychiatric conditions are related to anxiety, depression, memory loss, epilepsy, and insomnia. The extent of the scientific evidence available to understand the pharmacological application for their use against CNS disorders varied between different plant species, with the most prominent evidence shown by Annona cherimola, Justicia pectoralis, J. spicigera, Mimosa pudica, Persea americana, Petiveria alliacea, Piper amalago, Psidium guajava, Tagetes erecta and T. lucida.

CONCLUSION

Available pharmacological data suggest that different plant species used in traditional Mayan medicine may target the CNS, mainly related to GABA, serotonin, acetylcholine, or neuroprotective pathways. However, more research is required, given the limited data regarding mechanism of action at the preclinical in vivo level, identification of active compounds, scarce number of clinical studies, and the dearth of peer-reviewed studies.

Herbal medicine for epilepsy seizures in Asia, Africa and Latin America: A systematic review

RELEVANCE

More than 70 million people suffer epilepsy worldwide. Low availability of anti-epileptic drugs, side-effects and drug-resistant epilepsy affect the quality of life of persons with epilepsy in countries with a poorly developed health system. Herbal medicine is frequently used for this neurological condition.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective was to provide a detailed analysis of Herbal Medicine used for neurological conditions related with epilepsy in Asia, Africa and Latin America. More broadly, this study aims to highlight species with assessed efficacy (cross-cultural use, pharmacological effects on models of epileptic seizures) and safety (toxicological data in laboratory) information, in order to point out species of interest for further studies. A critical assessment of models used in pharmacological evaluations was done.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The systematic search for Herbal Medicine treatments for epilepsy was performed considering all the articles published until February 2017 through three scientific databases. It was made with MeSH terms and free text defining the epilepsy seizures and plant species. We included studies carried out in Asia, Africa and Latin America. All articles reporting the use of Herbal Medicine to treat epilepsy seizures and/or their pharmacological evaluation were retained for further analysis.

RESULTS

The search yielded 1886 articles, from 30 countries. Hundred and six articles published between 1982 and 2017 were included, corresponding to a total of 497 use reports for 351 plant species belonging to 106 families. Three hundred and seventy seven use reports corresponding to 264 species in ethnopharmacological surveys and 120 evaluation reports corresponding to 107 species were noted. Twenty-nine reports, for 29 species, combined both ethnopharmacological and pharmacological evaluation. Fifty eight studies originated from Africa, 35 studies from Asia and 18 from Latin America. Highest use report was noted for rhizomes of Acorus calamus L. (12 use report in 1 country) and leaves of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. (8 use report in 2 countries). Therefore these species display the highest use convergence. Regarding pharmacological evaluation most studied species were: Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. (4 evaluation reports in 1 country), Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Miq. ex Havil. (3 evaluation reports in 2 countries) and Calotropis gigantea (L.) Dryand. (3 evaluation reports in 1 country). In vivo models of chronic epilepsy were more relevant than in vitro models or chemical models inducing acute seizures for pharmacological assessment.

CONCLUSION

Species with the highest use report were not those with pharmacological evaluation. It will be pertinent to assess the pharmacological effects and safety of medicinal plants used mostly by traditional healers on predictive models of seizures.

Chemical composition and enzyme inhibition of Phytolacca dioica L. seeds extracts

Phytolacca, which belongs to the family of Phytolaccaceae, are known for their use in popular medicine. Bioactivity of five extracts from Phytolacca dioica seeds were evaluated in four bioassays. A selected group of compounds from the extract that displayed the best bioactivity was analysed. The ethyl acetate extract (EAE) possessed the highest content of phenolics, the highest inhibitory activity on the tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase enzymes and showed a high antioxidant activity. HPLC-DAD-MS was employed to identify the phenolics profile of the most active one (EAE). HSCCC analysis of the EAE led to the isolation of phytolaccoside B and a mixture of 4 isomers, isoamericanol B1, B2, C1 and C2. These isoamericanol isomers presented activity against tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase. Our results revealed for the first time an interesting biological activity of the extract and isolated compounds from P. dioica seeds, which could be considered as a source of bioactive molecules.

Neuropharmacological profile and chemical analysis of fresh rhizome essential oil of Curcuma longa (turmeric) cultivated in Southwest Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Curcuma longa (turmeric) is commonly used as spice and also used to treat fever, cough and febrile convulsions in Nigeria. This study determined the chemical composition of the essential oil of C. longa and evaluated its neuropharmacological activity in mice.

METHODS

Essential oil of C. longa (EOCL) fresh rhizome was obtained by hydrodistillation and its chemical composition determined by GC-MS. Acute toxicity (LD50) profile of the essential oil was determined orally (p.o.) and intraperitoneally (i.p.); and the EOCL (50-200 mg/kg, i.p.) was evaluated for its behavioural, anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activities using appropriate models in Albino mice (Vom Strain, Jos, Nigeria).

RESULTS

Analysis of the oil showed the presence of 23 compounds with turmerone (35.9%) being the major component. The LD50 values obtained for the mice were 2154 mg/kg, p.o., and 693 mg/kg, i.p. The EOCL (50-200 mg/kg, i.p.) caused significant (p < 0.01) inhibition of rearing {F(4,20) = 9} and locomotor {F(3,16) = 42} activity; decreased head dips in hole board {F (4,20) = 4}; increased the time spent in the open arms of the elevated pus maze {F (4,20) = 9}; prolonged total sleeping time {F (4,20) = 21} induced by ketamine injection, and protected mice against pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions.

CONCLUSION

The major component of the essential oil of this C. longa species was turmerone; the oil was slightly toxic orally but moderately toxic intraperitoneally in mice; exhibited significant anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant activities in mice.

Culture-Bound Syndromes of a Brazilian Amazon Riverine population: Tentative correspondence between traditional and conventional medicine terms and possible ethnopharmacological implications

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

It is not always possible to correlate the "emic" terms to the "etic" ones during ethnopharmacological surveys, especially regarding those related to Culture-Bound Syndromes (CBS). Nevertheless, it is the role of ethnopharmacology to address these correlations, since they are the basis for the understanding of potential bioactives.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

This study reports the clinical manifestations and therapeutic resources used for the treatment of CBS among some riverine inhabitants of Brazilian Amazonia. An effort was made to establish a correspondence between the local "emic" terms of traditional medicine and the symptoms or diseases known by conventional medicine ("etic" terms). The ultimate goal was to gain insights to suggest further pharmacological studies with the local resources.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fieldwork was guided by methods of anthropology, botany and zoology-with the assistance of a doctor-among the traditional healing experts in Jaú National Park (during 199 days in 1995) and Unini River Extractive Reserve (210 days from 2008 to 2012).

RESULTS

Fifty-nine healers of different kinds were interviewed: a prayer-maker, medium, natural resource expert, massage therapist, midwife and snakebite healer. The clinical manifestations and healing resources of the following CBS were collected: "mau olhado" (evil eye), "quebrante" (chipping); "espante" (fright or susto); "doença do ar" (air diseases); "vento caído" (fallen wind); "derrame" (leakage); "mãe do corpo" (mother of the body) and "panema" (unlucky). The first three seem to be local variations of other CBSs already described in Latin America. "doença do ar", "vento caído", "derrame" and "mãe do corpo" seem to be folk terms for known conventional medical disorders, while "panema" is a yet undescribed Brazilian CBS that is possibly related to dysthymic disorder or depression and deserves further investigation. Treatments included prayer rituals, fumigation, baths and oral remedies using 25 plants and 10 animals.

CONCLUSION

It was possible to establish hypothetical correlations between CBS as described by the riverine population studied and some "etic" terms. The main importance of this is to help the proposition of target-oriented pharmacological studies of the natural resources used by these communities. Accordingly, the following plants are suggested to be submitted to further studies for antidepressant and anxiolytic activities: Siparuna guianensis, Mansoa alliacea, Leucas martinicensis, Petiveria alliacea, Annona montana and Alpinia nutans; for anti-seizure activity: Protium amazonicum, Protium aracouchini and Protium heptaphyllum; finally for antispasmodic activity: Leucas martinicensis.

Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and neuropharmacological effects of Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae): A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Petiveria alliacea L. commonly grows in the tropical regions of the Americas such as the Amazon forest, Central America, Caribbean islands and Mexico, as well as specific regions of Africa. Popularly known by several different names including 'mucuracaá', 'guiné' and 'pipi', P. alliacea has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as anxiety, pain, memory deficits and seizures, as well as for its anaesthetic and sedative properties. Furthermore, the use of this species for religious ceremonies has been reported since the era of slavery in the Americas. Therefore, the present review aims to provide a critical and comprehensive overview of the ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of P. alliacea, focusing on CNS pharmacological effects, in order to identify scientific lacunae and to open new perspectives for future research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was performed on P. alliacea using ethnobotanical textbooks, published articles in peer-reviewed journals, unpublished materials, government survey reports and scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct and Google Scholar. The Plant List, International Plant Name Index and Kew Botanical Garden Plant name databases were used to validate the scientific names.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Crude extracts, fractions and phytochemical constituents isolated from various parts of P. alliacea show a wide spectrum of neuropharmacological activities including anxiolytic, antidepressant, antinociceptive and anti-seizure, and as cognitive enhancers. Phytochemistry studies of P. alliacea indicate that this plant contains a diversity of biologically active compounds, with qualitative and quantitative variations of the major compounds depending on the region of collection and the harvest season, such as essential oil (Petiverina), saponinic glycosides, isoarborinol-triterpene, isoarborinol-acetate, isoarborinol-cinnamate, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins. Root chemical analyses have revealed coumarins, benzyl-hydroxy-ethyl-trisulphide, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, dibenzyl trisulphide, potassium nitrate, b-sitosterol, isoarborinol, isoarborinol-acetate, isoarborinol-cinnamate, polyphenols, trithiolaniacine, glucose and glycine.

CONCLUSIONS

Many traditional uses of P. alliacea have now been validated by modern pharmacology research. The available data reviewed here support the emergence of P. alliacea as a potential source for the treatment of different CNS disorders including anxiety, depression, pain, epilepsy and memory impairments. However, further studies are certainly required to improve the knowledge about the mechanisms of action, toxicity and efficacy of the plant as well as about its bioactive compounds before it can be approved in terms of its safety for therapeutic applications.

Petiveria alliacea exerts mnemonic and learning effects on rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae) is a perennial shrub native to the Amazon region and other tropical areas such as Central America and the Caribbean. Popularly known as mucuracaá, P. alliacea is used in the folk medicine for a broad variety of therapeutic purpose and also in religious ceremonies by slaves as a sedative, which highlights its properties on the Central Nervous System (CNS).

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study evaluated the effects of the P. alliacea leaves hydroalcoholic extract (PaLHE) on the cognition, including learning and memory.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Three-month-old male and female Wistar rats (n=8-10/group) were administered with 900mg/kg of PaLHE. The behavioral assays included Step-down Inhibitory avoidance (IA) and Morris Water Maze (MWM) tests.

RESULTS

Consistent with our previous reports, P. alliacea improved long-term memory. It also exerted previously unreported effects on short-term and spatial memory improvement, and increased learning in the tasks.

CONCLUSIONS

The P. alliacea extract elicited mnemonic effects and improved the learning process in both IA and MWM tests. Our results highlight the importance of further studies in order to identify the active substances of the PaLHE and investigate the pharmacological mechanisms that underlies the reported effects.

Antibacterial effect of crude extract and metabolites of Phytolacca americana on pathogens responsible for periodontal inflammatory diseases and dental caries

Background

The oral cavity is the store house of different species of microorganisms that are continuously engaged in causing diseases in the mouth. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial potential of crude extracts of the aerial parts of Phytolacca americana and its natural compounds against two oral pathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus mutans, which are primarily responsible for periodontal inflammatory diseases and dental caries, as well as a nonpathogenic Escherichia coli.

Methods

Crude extract and fractions from the aerial parts of P. americana (0.008–1.8 mg/mL) were evaluated for their potential antibacterial activity against two oral disease causing microorganisms by micro-assays. The standard natural compounds present in P. americana, kaempferol, quercetin, quercetin 3-glucoside, isoqueritrin and ferulic acid, were also tested for their antibacterial activity against the pathogens at 1–8 μg/mL.

Results

The crude extract was highly active against P. gingivalis (100% growth inhibition) and moderately active against S. mutans (44% growth inhibition) at 1.8 mg/mL. The chloroform and hexane fraction controlled the growth of P. gingivalis with 91% and 92% growth inhibition at a concentration of 0.2 mg/mL, respectively. Kaempferol exerted antibacterial activity against both the pathogens, whereas quercetin showed potent growth inhibition activity against only S. mutans in a concentration dependent manner.

Conclusion

The crude extract, chloroform fraction, and hexane fraction of P. americana possesses active natural compounds that can inhibit the growth of oral disease causing bacteria. Thus, these extracts have the potential for use in the preparation of toothpaste and other drugs related to various oral diseases.

Involvement of serotoninergic and adrenergic systems on the antidepressant-like effect of E. uniflora L. leaves essential oil and further analysis of its antioxidant activity

In this work we evaluated antidepressant-like effect of E. uniflora leaves EO employing the tail suspension test. The involvement of serotonergic and adrenergic systems was appraised. EO was administered by oral route (p.o.) in mice and the doses of 10 and 50mg/kg exhibited antidepressant-like action in the TST. The effect of EO (10mg/kg) was prevented by the pretreatment of mice with ketanserin (5mg/kg, intraperitoneal), prazosin (0.1mg/kg, i.p.) and yohimbine (0.1mg/kg, i.p.). In addition, further analysis of the in vitro antioxidant effect of the EO was made against lipid oxidation. The results revealed that EO has a potent antioxidant activity and therapeutic potential for the development of phytomedicines with antidepressant and antioxidant properties.

Potential behavioral and pro-oxidant effects of Petiveria alliacea L. extract in adult rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Petiveria alliacea (Phytolaccaceae) is a perennial shrub indigenous to the Amazon Rainforest and tropical areas of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa. In folk medicine, Petiveria alliacea has a broad range of therapeutic properties; however, it is also associated with toxic effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study evaluated the putative effects of Petiveria alliacea on the central nervous system, including locomotor activity, anxiety, depression-like behavior, and memory, and oxidative stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two-month-old male and female Wistar rats (n=7-10 rats/group) were administered with 900 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extracts of Petiveria alliacea L. The behavioral assays included open-field, forced swimming, and elevated T-maze tests. The oxidative stress levels were measured in rat blood samples after behavioral assays and methemoglobin levels were measured in vitro.

RESULTS

Consistent with previous reports, Petiveria alliacea increased locomotor activity. It also exerted previously unreported anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in behavioral tests. In the oxidative stress assays, the Petiveria alliacea extract decreased Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity levels and increased methemoglobin levels, which was related to the toxic effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The Petiveria alliacea extract exerted motor stimulatory and anxiolytic effects in the OF test, antidepressant effects in the FS test, and elicited memory improvement in ETM. Furthermore, the Petiveria alliacea extract also exerted pro-oxidant effects in vitro and in vivo, inhibiting the antioxidant status and increasing MetHb levels in human plasma, respectively.

Observations on the therapeutic practices of riverine communities of the Unini River, AM, Brazil

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Parts and products of animals and plants, like exudates, have been used for medicinal and/or toxic purposes by various human groups throughout history. However, few ethnopharmacological studies have engaged their rescue.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To perform a broad ethnopharmacological survey of the local medicine practiced by traditional healing experts living in relative isolation at seven communities within the Amazon rainforest, in order to provide the basis for further pharmacological studies of the most promising findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The field work was conducted using an ethnographic approach with the assistance of a doctor. Plants and animals, as well as their products and derivatives, reported by the practitioners as being involved in healing practices were collected, identified and deposited in scientific collections.

RESULTS

A total of 33 traditional healing experts were selected and interviewed; they described themselves as: healer, midwife, knowledgeable of natural drugs or 'desmintidor' (an expert in massage techniques for the treatment of muscle contractures and joint sprains). In this therapeutic practice, 122 plant species, belonging to 60 botanical families, were indicated and collected; the most frequently mentioned families were: Fabaceae s.l. (10%), Arecaceae (6%), Zingiberaceae (5%) and Lamiaceae (5%). Plant exudates from 14 of those plant species were also indicated and collected, with those from the Burseraceae family being the most common. Furthermore, 57 animals belonging to 35 taxonomic families were indicated. They most frequently belonged to 2 families of bony fishes: Cichlidae (14%) and Characidae (9%). Plants and animals were indicated for 67 therapeutic uses and grouped into 21 usage categories; the psychoactive category was associated with the greatest number of used resources (17%), followed by the cultural syndromes category (16.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

The geographic isolation and limited access to medical care in these communities resulted in unique, rich and consistent therapeutic system. There was a high degree of agreement among interviewees regarding the use of the same resources especially in the categories: psychoactive, cultural syndromes, pregnancy and childbirth, and inflammatory processes, suggesting a high degree of repetition and intercommunication. Further pharmacological and phytochemical investigations may search for new bioactive compounds among the described resources.

Natural products from ethnodirected studies: revisiting the ethnobiology of the zombie poison

Wade Davis's study of Haitian “zombification” in the 1980s was a landmark in ethnobiological research. His research was an attempt to trace the origins of reports of “undead” Haitians, focusing on the preparation of the zombification poison. Starting with this influential ethnopharmacological research, this study examines advances in the pharmacology of natural products, focusing especially on those of animal-derived products. Ethnopharmacological, pharmacological, and chemical aspects are considered. We also update information on the animal species that reportedly constitute the zombie poison. Several components of the zombie powder are not unique to Haiti and are used as remedies in traditional medicine worldwide. This paper emphasizes the medicinal potential of products from zootherapy. These biological products are promising sources for the development of new drugs.

Neuropharmacological effects of Nigerian honey in mice

Honey is a natural sweet substance that bees produce by transforming flower nectar or other sweet secretions of plants. It has widespread use in traditional medicine in various parts of the world. It has been reported to assist in building the entire central nervous system. The beneficial effects of honey have been attributed to the possible polyphenolic contents and some other constituents. The geographical locations and the sources of plant nectars may contribute to the effects of honey samples. Thus, we evaluated the neuropharmacological effects of six samples of honey (10%, 20% and 40%(V)/v, p.o.) from three geographical locations of Nigeria using the following behavioral models: Novelty-induced behaviors (NIB), learning and memory, pentobarbital-induced hypnosis, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, analgesic and antidepressant models in mice. The results showed that honey significantly (p< 0.05) decreased locomotion and rearing behaviors in NIB and amphetamine-induced locomotor activity when compared to the control group. Exploratory behavior was significantly increased in both holeboard and elevated plus maze but had no significant effect on spatial working memory. Honey sample from Umudike has significant hypnotic and anticonvulsant effects. The antinociceptive models (hot plate and tail flick tests) showed that the honey samples significantly increased the pain reaction time and naloxone blocked these central antinociceptive effects. The force swimming test showed that only the Idanre (ID) honey sample had antidepressant effect. In conclusion, some of these honey samples have central inhibitory property, anxiolytic, antinociceptive, anticonvulsant and antidepressant effects, thus may be used as nutraceutic. It can also be inferred that some of these effects are probably mediated through dopaminergic and opioidergic systems.

Dual effects of crude extracts obtained from Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae) on experimental anxiety in mice

AIM OF THE STUDY

Different preparations obtained from P. alliacea have been traditionally used in South America and Brazil for many medical conditions. To investigate the effects of fresh whole plant (WP) extract, aerial part (AP) extract, and root (R) extract obtained from Petiveria alliacea using the elevated plus maze (EPM) model of anxiety in mice. Total flavonoid content present in Petiveria alliacea extracts was also determined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

WP, AP, or R (300-900 mg/kg) extracts were orally administered to mice 30 min before they were subjected to the EPM and open field test. Total flavonoid content present in the extracts was determined by spectrophotometry.

RESULTS

The WP extract (300 and 900 mg/kg) caused anxiolytic-like effects, and the AP extract (300 mg/kg) induced anxiogenic-like effects in mice subjected to the EPM. No effect on anxiety-like behavior was observed with acute administration of the R extract. The content of flavonoids present in the AP extract (1.34%) was almost threefold higher than the flavonoid content present in the WP extract (0.52%).

CONCLUSIONS

Preparations using different fresh parts of Petiveria alliacea caused opposite effects on experimental anxiety in mice. However, predicting the extent to which flavonoid content present in Petiveria alliacea extracts differentially induces anxiolysis or anxiogenesis in mice was not possible. Further studies will be necessary to elucidate the effects of flavonoids or other substances present in Petiveria alliacea extracts on experimental anxiety.

Antinociceptive effects of the essential oil of Mentha x villosa leaf and its major constituent piperitenone oxide in mice

Mentha x villosa Huds (Labiatae) is an aromatic herb widely used in folk medicine. Since the essential oil of the herb has many pharmacological activities, including antispasmodic effects, we determined whether the oil and its major constituent, piperitenone oxide (PO), have antinociceptive activity. The essential oil of M. x villosa (EOMV) and PO administered orally at 200 mg/kg (vehicle: 0.1% Tween 80 in water) significantly reduced the writhings induced by acetic acid from control values of 59.5 +/- 3.1 s (N = 10) to 31.9 +/- 2.8 s (N = 10) and 23.8 +/- 3.4 s (N = 10), respectively. When administered at 100 and 200 mg/kg, EOMV reduced the paw licking time for the second phase of the formalin test from the control value of 20.6 +/- 2.1 s (N = 13) to 5.3 +/- 2.2 s (N = 12) and 2.7 +/- 1.2 s (N = 18), respectively. At 100 and 200 mg/kg, PO reduced this second phase to 8.3 +/- 2.7 s (N = 12) and 3.0 +/- 1.2 s (N = 10), respectively. This effect of EOMV and PO was not reversed by naloxone. EOMV and PO had no significant effect on the first phase of the formalin test. As evaluated by the hot-plate and tail immersion test, EOMV and PO, at doses up to 200 mg/kg, showed no analgesic activity. These results show that EOMV and PO have antinociceptive activity and suggest that this effect is probably an indirect anti-inflammatory effect, which does not involve the central nervous system.

Anxiolytic-like effect of Carvacrol (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol) in mice: involvement with GABAergic transmission

Carvacrol (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol) is a monoterpenic phenol present in the essencial oil of many plants. It is the major component of the essential oil fraction of oregano and thyme. This work presents the behavioral effects of carvacrol in animal models of elevated plus maze (EPM), open field, Rotarod and barbiturate-induced sleeping time tests in mice. Carvacrol (CVC) was administered orally, in male mice, at single doses of 12.5; 25 and 50 mg/kg while diazepam 1 or 2 mg/kg was used as standard drug and flumazenil (2.5 mg/kg) was used to elucidate the possible anxiolytic mechanism of CVC on the plus maze test. The results showed that CVC, at three doses, had no effect on the spontaneous motor activity in the Rotarod test nor in the number of squares crossed in the open-field test. However, CVC decreased the number of groomings in the open-field test. In the plus maze test, CVC, at three doses significantly increased all the observed parameters in the EPM test and flumazenil was able to reverse the effects of diazepam and CVC. Therefore, CVC did not alter the sleep latency and sleeping time in the barbiturate-induced sleeping time test. These results show that CVC presents anxiolytic effects in the plus maze test which are not influenced by the locomotor activity in the open-field test.

Anxiolytic-like effect of Sonchus oleraceus L. in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sonchus oleraceus L. has been used as a general tonic in Brazilian folk medicine. Nevertheless, available scientific information regarding this species is scarce; there are no reports related to its possible effect on the central nervous system.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was conducted to establish the anxiolytic effect of extracts from the aerial parts of Sonchus oleraceus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study evaluated the effect of hydroethanolic and dichloromethane extracts of Sonchus oleraceus in mice submitted to the elevated plus-maze and open-field tests. Clonazepam was used as the standard drug.

RESULTS

In the elevated plus-maze test, the Sonchus oleraceus extracts increased the percentage of open arm entries (P<0.05) and time spent in the open-arm portions of the maze (P<0.05). The extracts induce an anti-thigmotactic effect, evidenced by increased locomotor activity into the central part of the open field set-up (P<0.05). The extracts administered at 30-300 mg/kg, p.o. had a similar anxiolytic effect to clonazepam (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.).

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that Sonchus oleraceus extract exerts an anxiolytic-like effect on mice.