Abstract
This work investigated the effects of a combined extract of Passiflora alata Dryander and Valeriana officinalis L. (EPV) in rats under going elevated plus maze (EPM) and open-field test (OFT). No effects were detected after acute or repeated (3 or 7-days) treatment with EPV (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg, by gavage), on the EPM or the OFT. However, rats treated for 15 day (20 mg/kg) with EPV showed increased percentage of entries and time spent in the open arms on the EPM without alter locomotor activity in the OFT compared to control group. Acute or a 15 day administration of diazepam (2 mg/kg, i.p.), increased the same parameters on the EPM and OFT. Acute treatment with 300 or 600 mg/kg of EPV, decreased the locomotor activity in the OFT. Results suggest anxiolytic and sedative effects for the EPV and reveal a wide dose range for the anxiolytic effect
Highlights
Pathological anxiety is one of most common mental disorders manifested by humans.Anxiolytic substances, mostly belonging to the benzodiazepine group, occupy a prominent position in the ranking of drugs most utilized by man to minimize anxiety
Benzodiazepines enhance the activity of gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), which results in its clinical effects, including anxiolysis, muscle relaxation, sedation and hypnosis (Kan et al, 1997; Uhlenhuth et al, 1999)
After acute administration the higher doses (300 or 600 mg/kg) of the combined extract of EPV produced a significant decrease in locomotor activity in the open-field test (OFT), revealing sedative effect
Summary
Pathological anxiety is one of most common mental disorders manifested by humans. Anxiolytic substances, mostly belonging to the benzodiazepine group, occupy a prominent position in the ranking of drugs most utilized by man to minimize anxiety. Benzodiazepines enhance the activity of gama-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), which results in its clinical effects, including anxiolysis, muscle relaxation, sedation and hypnosis (Kan et al, 1997; Uhlenhuth et al, 1999). Deficits produced by benzodiazepine exposure are associated with an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents and hip fracture rates in the elderly, especially with longer acting compounds (Ray et al, 1989; Cummings and Klineberg, 1993; Hemmengarn et al, 1997; Barbone et al, 1998). Owing to the unfavorable risks produced by classical anxiolytics, the development of new effective but less potent to induce adverse reactions is necessary. Considerable attention has been given to the plant-derived therapeutics by the scientific community and the pharmaceutical industry
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