Passiflora actinia Hooker extracts and fractions induce catalepsy in mice

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 100; no. 3; pp. 306 - 309
• Main Authors: Santos, K.C., Santos, C.A.M., de Oliveira, R.M.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 14.09.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Antipsychotic Agents - pharmacology; bioassays; Biological and medical sciences; Catalepsy; Catalepsy - chemically induced; chemical constituents of plants; ethnobotany; Flavonoids; General pharmacology; Haloperidol - pharmacology; herbal medicines; leaves; Male; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; medicinal properties; Mice; Passiflora; Passiflora - chemistry; Passiflora - toxicity; Passiflora actinia; Passifloraceae; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - toxicity; Plant Leaves - chemistry; sedatives; traditional medicine; tranquilizers; Brazil; Flavonoids; Passifloraceae; Passiflora actinia; Catalepsy; Pharmacognosy; Rodentia; Extract; Flavonoid; Medicinal plant; Polyphenol; Vertebrata; Passiflora; Mammalia; Mouse; Dicotyledones; Animal; Angiospermae; Plant origin; Phenols; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.03.010

Leaves from several Passiflora species are largely employed in the Brazilian folk medicine for its anxiolytic and sedative properties. In behavioral studies, to analyze the tranquillizer action of Passiflora actinia Hooker, it was noteworthy that animals treated with the hydroethanol (HE) and methanol (ME) extracts presented an abnormal postural immobility compared to control animals. That observation led to an investigation of the effects of HE and its fractions on evaluation of catalepsy in mice. The results showed that HE extract, methanol extract, the sequent aqueous crude fractions (AF), and fa, fb and fc chromatographic fractions obtained from Passiflora actinia induced catalepsy in mice. Apparently, the active principles responsible for catalepsy are present in all of the fractions of the extract.