Anxiolytic effects of Julibroside C1 isolated from Albizzia julibrissin in mice

• Published in: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry Vol. 44; pp. 184 - 192
• Main Authors: Jung, Yang-Hee, Ha, Ri-Ra, Kwon, Seung-Hwan, Hong, Sa-Ik, Lee, Kun-Ho, Kim, Sun-Yeou, Lee, Seok-Yong, Jang, Choon-Gon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.07.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: 5-HT1A; 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin - pharmacokinetics; Albizzia - chemistry; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology; Anxiolytic effects; Autoradiography; Benzodiazepine; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flunitrazepam - pharmacokinetics; GABAA; Julibroside C1; Male; Maze Learning - drug effects; Medical sciences; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Motor Activity - drug effects; Muscimol - pharmacokinetics; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Preparations - chemistry; Plant Preparations - pharmacology; Protein Binding - drug effects; Psycholeptics: tranquillizer, neuroleptic; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Radionuclide Imaging; Saponins - chemistry; Saponins - pharmacology; Triterpenes - chemistry; Triterpenes - pharmacology; Tritium - pharmacokinetics; EPM; Cg; Benzodiazepine; CPu; 8-OH-DPAT; Anxiolytic effects; GABAA; NAc; AEAJ; DW; FrA; A. julibrissin; Mc; GABA; N/OFQ; 5-HT1A; 5-HT; Julibroside C1; C; Psychotropic; Rodentia; Julibroside; Vertebrata; Mammalia; 5-HT1A Serotonine receptor; Tranquillizer; Mouse; Animal; Benzodiazepine derivatives
• ISSN: 0278-5846; 1878-4216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.02.012

Julibroside C1 is a saponin-containing compound isolated from Albizzia julibrissin Durazz. In this study, we investigated the putative anxiolytic effects of Julibroside C1 using the elevated plus maze (EPM) in mice. Julibroside C1 at doses of 0.5 and 1mg/kg significantly increased the time spent in the open arms and the number of entries into the open arms of the EPM compared to the control group. Moreover, the anxiolytic-like effects of Julibroside C1 (0.5mg/kg) were blocked by WAY-100635 (5-HT1A receptor antagonist), bicuculline (GABAA receptor antagonist), and flumazenil (antagonist of the GABAA receptor benzodiazepine site). However, Julibroside C1 did not change locomotor activity or induce myorelaxant effects. We used quantitative receptor autoradiography to investigate the effects of Julibroside C1 on alterations in mouse brain receptors. After acute treatment with Julibroside C1 (0.5mg/kg), [3H]-8-OH-DPAT binding was significantly decreased in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and [3H]-flunitrazepam binding was decreased remarkably in the cingulate cortex region. However, [3H]-muscimol binding did not show a significant change in any brain region. Taken together, our findings suggest that Julibroside C1 shows anxiolytic-like effects, which might be mediated by the 5-HT1A and GABAA–benzodiazepine receptor systems. ► Julibroside C1 showed anxiolytic-like effects in the EPM test. ► Julibroside C1 effects were blocked by WAY-100635, bicuculline, and flumazenil. ► Julibroside C1 induced alterations in 5-HT1A and GABAA receptors in the mouse brain.