Open AccessCentral nervous system effects of the essential oil of the leaves of Alpinia zerumbet in mice
Author(s) -
De Araújo Fernanda Yvelize Ramos,
Silva Maria Izabel Gomès,
Moura Brinell Arcanjo,
De Oliveira Gersilene Valente,
Leal Luzia Kalyne A. Moreira,
Vasconcelos Silvânia Maria Mendes,
Viana Glauce Socorro Barros,
De Moraes Manoel Odorico,
De Sousa Francisca Cléa Florenço,
Macêdo Danielle Silveira
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 2042-7158
pISSN - 0022-3573
DOI - 10.1211/jpp.61.11.0012
Subject(s) - catalepsy , stereotypy , haloperidol , behavioural despair test , apomorphine , open field , elevated plus maze , pharmacology , essential oil , locomotor activity , chemistry , traditional medicine , medicine , dopaminergic , antidepressant , endocrinology , anxiety , amphetamine , dopamine , hippocampus , psychiatry , food science
Objectives Alpinia zerumbet , known in Brazil as colônia, is popularly used as a diuretic, antihypertensive, anti‐ulcerogenic and sedative. Based on this, we have investigated the central effects of the essential oil isolated from A. zerumbet leaves. Methods Mice were treated once with 50 or 100 mg/kg of the essential oil, intraperitoneally, 30 min before being submitted to behavioural models of: locomotor activity (open‐field), catalepsy, anxiety (elevated plus maze), depression (forced swimming test and tail suspension tests) as well as apomorphine‐induced stereotypy. Key findings Results showed a dose‐related decrease on locomotor activity and apomorphine‐induced stereotypy. There was a decrease to the order of 55% of the grooming behaviour with both doses studied. The essential oil 100 mg/kg increased cataleptic activity (167%) and the immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests. Pretreatment with haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) alone also decreased locomotion, increased cataleptic activity and immobility time in the tail suspension test. No alterations in the elevated plus maze test were registered. Conclusions The essential oil of A. zerumbet leaves had depressant and possible antipsychotic activity, since it could reverse the stereotypy induced by apomorphine, presenting effects comparable with those obtained with haloperidol treatment.