Abstract
Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt (‘Java citronella’) is an important essential oil yielding aromatic grass cultivated in India and Brazil and its volatile essential oils extracted from its leaves are used in perfumery, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and flavoring industries. However, there is no report on any psychopharmacological study of C. winterianus leaf essential oil (LEO) available to date. In this study, the pharmacological effects of the LEO were investigated in animal models and its phytochemical analyses. GC-MS analysis showed a mixture of monoterpenes, as citronellal (36.19%), geraniol (32.82%) and citronellol (11.37%). LEO exhibited an inhibitory effect on the locomotor activity of mice, an antinociceptive effect by increasing the reaction time in the writhing and capsaicin tests. All doses induced a significant increase in the sleeping time of animals not having modified however, the latency. The LEO did not alter the remaining time of the animals on the rota-rod apparatus. These results suggest a possible central effect. Key words: Cymbopogon winterianus, essential oil, CNS, behavioral effects, analgesic.
Highlights
Traditional health care is utilized by the majority of the low income population in Brazilian northeast
Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt (‘Java citronella’) is an important essential oil yielding aromatic grass cultivated in India and Brazil and its volatile essential oils extracted from its leaves are used in perfumery, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and flavoring industries
leaf essential oil (LEO) at doses of 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg (p.o.) showed depressant activity on central nervous system (CNS) based on the following behavioral alterations in animals after 0.5, 1 and 2 h treatment: decrease of the spontaneous activity, palpebral ptosis, ataxia, analgesia and sedation
Summary
Traditional health care is utilized by the majority of the low income population in Brazilian northeast. This is especially true of treatment for mental health problems. Abbreviation: LEO, Leaf essential oil; EO, essential oil. It have been described as a hypothetical potential to affect chronic conditions such as anxiety, depression, headaches, pain treatment or epilepsy, which does not respond well to conventional treatments (Carlini, 2003). A great number of scientists and organizations turn their attention to traditional therapies in order to find and conserve important resources (Akerele, 1990). Medicinal plants have been an important source of new drugs with biological activity
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