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Effects of Ptychopetalum olacoides extract on mouse behaviour in forced swimming and open field tests
Author(s) -
Paiva L. A. F.,
Rao V. S. N.,
Silveira E. R.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(199806)12:4<294::aid-ptr230>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - open field , yohimbine , clonidine , aphrodisiac , behavioural despair test , stimulant , antagonist , bark (sound) , agonist , traditional medicine , pharmacology , medicine , biology , anesthesia , endocrinology , antidepressant , ecology , receptor , alternative medicine , pathology , hippocampus
Ptychopetalum olacoides (Olacaceae) is a popular Amazonian medicinal plant in Brazil claimed to be aphrodisiac and to cure male impotence. In the present study, we have evaluated the hydroalcohol extract prepared from stem bark on the behaviour in mice using forced swimming‐induced immobility and open field as test models. The plant extract was found to possess both motor depressant and stimulant properties depending on the test model used. While it diminished locomotor activity in the open field test, it caused a reduction of immobility time in the forced swimming test. Also, these effects were found to be similar to those produced by clonidine, an α 2 ‐adrenoceptor agonist and were abolished by yohimbine, an α 2 ‐adrenergic antagonist. The findings obtained suggest a clonidine‐like effect of P. olacoides bark extract. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.