Planta Med 2011; 77(3): 236-241
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250315
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Anxiolytic Effects of a Semipurified Constituent of Guaraná Seeds on Rats in the Elevated T-Maze Test

Camila Marroni Roncon1 , Camila Biesdorf de Almeida1 , Traudi Klein1 , João Carlos Palazzo de Mello1 , Elisabeth Aparecida Audi1
  • 1Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil
Further Information

Publication History

received March 23, 2010 revised July 26, 2010

accepted August 5, 2010

Publication Date:
15 September 2010 (online)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic administration of a semi-purified extract (Purified Extract A – PEA; 4, 8, or 16 mg/kg) of Paullinia cupana (guaraná) seeds on rats submitted to the elevated T-maze (ETM) model of generalized anxiety and panic disorders. The selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine (PAR; 3 mg/kg), was used as a positive control. To evaluate possible serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission involvement in the action of PEA during the ETM test, ineffective doses of metergoline (MET; 5-HT2A/2C antagonist receptor) or sulpiride (SUL; dopaminergic receptor antagonist) were acutely administered together with the PEA. The locomotion of the rats was assessed in a circular arena following each drug treatment. Both PEA (8 and 16 mg/kg) and PAR (3 mg/kg) increased one-way escape latencies from the open arm of the ETM, indicating a panicolytic effect compared to the control group. MET, in higher doses (1, 2 or 3 mg/kg), produced a panicolytic effect in the ETM test, whereas SUL did not (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg). The panicolytic effect produced by PEA (8 mg/kg) was blocked by both MET (2 mg/kg) and SUL (20 mg/kg), whereas the panicolytic effect produced by PAR (3 mg/kg) was blocked only by MET (2 mg/kg). These results show that chronic treatment with PEA produces a panicolytic effect during the ETM test, and that the dopaminergic and the serotonergic neurotransmission systems are involved in this effect.

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Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Aparecida Audi

Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
State University of Maringá

Av. Colombo, 5790

Zona 7, CEP

87020-900 Maringá, PR

Brazil

Phone: + 55 44 30 11 48 44

Fax: + 55 44 32 61 49 99

Email: eaaudi@uem.br