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In the present study were studied the antinociceptives properties of monoterpene R-(؉) (1 mg/kg, s.c.). It was also demonstrated that R-(؉)-limonene (25, 50 mg/kg) neither significantly enhanced the pentobarbital-sleeping time nor impaired the motor performance in rota-rod test, indicating that the observed antinociception is unlikely to be due to sedation or motor abnormality. In conclusion it may be suggested that the R-(؉)-limonene presented antinociceptive activity and that, probably, this action can be related with peripheral analgesia, but, not with the stimulation of opioids receptors.-

RESUMO:A procura de novos agentes terapêuticos provenientes de plantas medicinais para doenças psiquiátricas tem progredido signifi cativamente na última década. Isso refl ete num grande número de preparações herbárias para as quais o potencial psicoterapêutico tem sido avaliado em diversos modelos animais. O intuito desta revisão é fornecer uma ampla visão das plantas medicinais que apresentam efeitos terapêuticos signifi cantes em modelos animais de doenças psiquiátricas, especifi camente os distúrbios da ansiedade. Um considerável número de constituintes herbários cujos efeitos comportamentais e ações farmacológicas têm sido bem caracterizados podem ser bons candidatos para futuras investigações que podem resultar em uso clínico, merecendo, portanto, uma maior atenção em estudos posteriores.Unitermos: Plantas medicinais, distúrbios da ansiedade, modelos animais de ansiedade. ABSTRACT: "Medicinal plants and their bioactive constituents:A scientifi c review of bioactivity and potential benefi ts in the anxiety disorders in animal models". A search for novel pharmacotherapy from medicinal plants for psychiatric illnesses has progressed signifi cantly in the past decade. This is refl ected in the large number of herbal preparations for which psychotherapeutic potential has been evaluated in a variety of animal models. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of medicinal plants that have signifi cant therapeutic effects in animal models of psychiatric illnesses, specifi cally anxiety disorders. A considerable number of herbal constituents whose behavioral effects and pharmacological actions have been well characterized may be good candidates for future investigations that may result in clinical use, thus deserving increased attention in future studies.

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The antidiabetic activity of aqueous, ethanolic and hexanic extracts of Bauhinia forficata was investigated in a model of alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. The biochemical parameters studied were: plasma glucose, serum triglycerides, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL). Extracts were administered daily for 7 d at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o., 48 h after alloxan injection (60 mg/kg, i.v.). The alloxan-diabetic rats showed significant reductions in plasma glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol after treatment with the extracts and glibenclamide (used as standard) as compared to the diabetic controls. Levels of LDL were not altered. In conclusion, our results showed that the plant extracts when administered by gavage may reduce glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol levels. These results suggest the validity of the clinical use of B. forficata in the treatment of diabetes mellitus type II.

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Abstract:Medicinal plants have been used in traditional medicine for several thousand years all over the world. In this sense, information from Brazilian ethnic groups on folk medicine have contributed to the discovery of pharmacological activities from various plant-derived agents potentially leading to the innovative drugs. The Caatinga (semi-arid) vegetation is a highly threatened biome, covering a vast area in northeastern Brazil and has suffered from strong human influence for many decades. Many plants species found in the Caatinga have been widely used in folk medicine and for commercial manufacturing of phytotherapeutic products. Thus, the present review aims to disseminate to the scientific community some known species of medicinal plants found in the Caatinga that have been studied and analyzed in pharmacological scientific assays. Among the species that stood out for their local importance and multiplicity of uses were: Amburana cearensisand Zingiber officinalis L. (gengibre). The present study shows that several herbal constituents from Caatinga plants, whose pharmacological actions have been well characterized, may be relevant candidates for future and innovative therapeutic development.