Anxiolytic activity of a supercritical carbon dioxide extract of Souroubea sympetala (Marcgraviaceae)

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to develop an extraction technique to yield a betulinic acid-(BA) enriched extract of the traditional anti-anxiety plant Souroubea sympetala Gilg (Marcgraviaceae). Five extraction techniques were compared: supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SCE), conventional solvent extraction with ethyl acetate (EtOAc), accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) and soxhlet extraction (Sox). The EtOAc and SCE extraction methods resulted in BA-enriched extracts, with BA concentrations of 6.78 ± 0.2 and 5.54 ± 0.2 mg/g extract, respectively, as determined by HPLC-APCI-MS. The bioactivity of the BA-enriched extracts was compared in the elevated plus maze (EPM), a validated rodent anxiety behaviour assay. Rats orally administered a 75 mg/kg dose of SCE extract exhibited anxiolysis as compared with vehicle controls, with a 50% increase in the percent time spent in the open arms, a 73% increase in unprotected head dips and a 42% decrease in percent time spent in the closed arms. No significant differences were observed between the SCE and EtOAc extracts for these measures, but the animals dosed with SCE extract had significantly more unprotected head dips than those dosed with the EtOAc extract. The SCE extract demonstrated a dose-response in the EPM, with a trend toward decreased anxiety at 25 mg/kg, and significant anxiolysis was only observed at 75 mg/kg dose. This study demonstrates that SCE can be used to generate a betulinic acid-enriched extract with significant anxiolysis in vivo. Further, the study provides a scientific basis for the ethnobotanical use of this traditional medicine and a promising lead for a natural health product to treat anxiety.

Clinical Observations and Safety Profile of Oral Herbal Products, Souroubea and Platanus Spp; a Pilot-Toxicology Study in Dogs

“…In both, SSBB and PTB the betulinic acid (BA) is considered to be the major active component. Both species were analysed for BA content by HPLC/MS methods as previously described [5]. BA possesses anxiolytic properties at low doses (1 mg/kg) [6] and has potential benefi ts in canc er therapy [7,8] reduction of HIV replication [9,10], infl ammation [11] and bacterial infections at much higher doses (50-500 mg/kg) [12].…”

Subcritical water extraction of betulinic acid from birch bark

“…Therefore, new environmentally and human-friendly technologies are badly needed. Although application of supercritical carbon dioxide technique reduces the use of organic solvents in BA extraction (Mullally et al, 2011;Patinha et al, 2013), the high pressure conditions and high costs limit its up-scale potential.…”

Assessment of the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of crude extracts and fractions of Schwartzia brasiliensis (Choisy) Bedell ex Giraldo-Caas

“…Initially, the species was included in the Norantea genus (Giraldo-Cañas, 2004), but it now belongs to the Schwartzia genus. Pharmacological studies with some species of the Marcgraviaceae family indicate antifungal (Jones et al, 2000) and anxiolytic activities (Mullally et al, 2011). Studies investigating the medicinal potential of S. brasiliensis also reported antibacterial activities (Mello et al, 2014), and Agripino et al (2004) showed that ethanol extracts of stems of S. brasiliensis could protect against DNA damage.…”