Neuropharmacological Effects of the Dichloromethane Extract from the Stems of <i>Argemone ochroleuca</i> Sweet (Papaveraceae) and Its Active Compound Dihydrosanguinarine

• Main Authors: Eunice Yáñez-Barrientos (Author), Juan Carlos Barragan-Galvez (Author), Sergio Hidalgo-Figueroa (Author), Alfonso Reyes-Luna (Author), Maria L. Gonzalez-Rivera (Author), David Cruz Cruz (Author), Mario Alberto Isiordia-Espinoza (Author), Martha Alicia Deveze-Álvarez (Author), Clarisa Villegas Gómez (Author), Angel Josabad Alonso-Castro (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2023-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<i>Argemone ochroleuca</i> Sweet (Papaveraceae) is used in folk medicine as a sedative and hypnotic agent. This study aimed to evaluate the anxiolytic-like, sedative, antidepressant-like, and anticonvulsant activities of a dichloromethane extract of <i>A. ochroleuca</i> stems (AOE), chemically standardized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and its active compound dihydrosanguinarine (DHS). The anxiolytic-like, sedative, antidepressant-like, and anticonvulsant activities of the AOE (0.1-50 mg/kg p.o.) and DHS (0.1-10 mg/kg p.o.) were evaluated using murine models. A possible mechanism for the neurological actions induced by the AOE or DHS was assessed using inhibitors of neurotransmission pathways and molecular docking. Effective dose 50 (ED₅₀) values were calculated by a linear regression analysis. The AOE showed anxiolytic-like activity in the cylinder exploratory test (ED₅₀ = 33 mg/kg), and antidepressant-like effects in the forced swimming test (ED₅₀ = 3 mg/kg) and the tail suspension test (ED₅₀ = 23 mg/kg), whereas DHS showed anxiolytic-like activity (ED₅₀ = 2 mg/kg) in the hole board test. The AOE (1-50 mg/kg) showed no locomotive affectations or sedation in mice. A docking study revealed the affinity of DHS for α2-adrenoreceptors and GABA_A receptors. The anxiolytic-like and anticonvulsant effects of the AOE are due to GABAergic participation, whereas the antidepressant-like effects of the AOE are due to the noradrenergic system. The noradrenergic and GABAergic systems are involved in the anxiolytic-like actions of DHS.

Item Description

10.3390/ph16081175
1424-8247