Abstract
Bourreria huanita (Lex.) Hemsl. (Boraginaceae) is a very rare and highly appreciated tree in Mesoamerica for its medicinal properties and beauty. It grows in a region extending from central Mexico to Costa Rica. Ethnobotanical surveys have shown that the infusion of dried flowers is popularly used as a tranquilizer to cure several diseases. In the present study we report the isolation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBZ) obtained from the hydroalcoholic extract (HE) of B. huanita, and the effect of both, the extract and the compound on the central nervous system in mice. HE of B. huanita (100, 150, 300 mg/kg) and pHBZ (10 mg/kg) were orally administered to mice and 1 h later, behavioral tests were performed. The effects of HE and pHBZ were tested by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and strychnine (STR) induced seizures, pentobarbital-induced hypnosis, the forced swimming test and the tail suspension test, the elevated plus maze, apomorphine-induced stereotypy and the climbing test, the inhibitory avoidance test and the open-field test. B. huanita extract produced hypnotic, anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in animals, with no change in motor performance. On the other hand, the extract did not reduce PTZ and STR-induced convulsions, apomorphine-induced stereotypy or climbing. Moreover, no changes were observed in the animals’ memory. The compound pHBZ was effective only in the depression tests. The results obtained in the present study suggest that B. huanita exhibited sedative, antidepressant and hypnotic activities in mice, and that the antidepressant activity may be mediated by an isolated compound identified as pHBZ.
Highlights
Bourreria huanita (Lex.) Hemsl. (Boraginaceae), is a very rare and highly appreciated tree in Mesoamerica for its medicinal properties, aroma and beauty
It was observed that treatment of animals with p-hydroxybenzoic acid (pHBZ) was not able to change the behavioral parameters observed in the plus maze (p > 0.05)
The general depressant activity of B. huanita extract was confirmed by a decrease in sleep latency and an increase in pentobarbital-induced sleeping time, which may be attributed to an inhibition of the pentobarbital metabolism or to an action in the regulation of sleep [22]
Summary
Bourreria huanita (Lex.) Hemsl. (Boraginaceae), is a very rare and highly appreciated tree in Mesoamerica for its medicinal properties, aroma and beauty. The pollen of the flowers of this sacred tree has been found on the Rosalila Temple floor, and in a royal tomb of the Classical Period in Copan, Honduras, proving its use in ancestral rituals [2] Today, it is known in Guatemala as “esquisúchil”, a word derived from the ancient Náhuatl language of the Aztecs meaning “popcorn flower”, due to the appearance of its fragrant white flowers. The most famous specimen in Guatemala was planted in the garden of The Calvary Church in Antigua Guatemala on March 19th, 1657, by the Christian Saint Hermano Pedro de Betancur This sacred tree for the Guatemalans is still blooming profusely, in situ, after more than three centuries, which proves the longevity of this species, officially nearing extinction [3]. It is mentioned in the first medical book written in the Americas by the Aztec physician Martín De La Cruz in 1552 [4], who prescribes it for “the fatigue of whom administrates the republic and performs a public charge”, suggesting a possible effect on the Nervous System
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