Behavioural characterization of four endemic Stachys taxa

Abstract

We performed a basic behavioral characterization of methanol extracts of four Balkan endemic Stachys taxa: S. anisochila (SA), S. beckeana (SB), S. plumosa (SP) and S. alpina subsp. dinarica (SAD). The behavioral activity of extracts dosed intraperitoneally in the range 100-400 mg/kg was examined in adult male Wistar rats, in the elevated plus maze, spontaneous locomotor activity, and grip strength tests, mainly predictive of anxiolytic, sedative and myorelaxant actions, respectively. All investigated Stachys extracts lacked anxiolytic or myorelaxant activities, while SB at 400 mg/kg exerted an anxiogenic-like effect. The study with the selective antagonist beta-CCt showed that the sedative effect of SAD was only partially mediated by GABAA receptors containing the alpha1-subunit. While discernible, the behavioral effects of SA and SP were not distinct. In all extracts, chlorogenic acid and verbascoside were identified. In SA, SB, and SAD the flavonoid fraction was constituted of isoscutellarein and hypolaetine glycosides, while in SP chrysoeriol and apigenin glycosides were present. The results reveal the psychotropic potential of four endemic Stachys taxa, of which SAD appeared most promising as a natural sedative.

The aqueous extract of Albizia adianthifolia leaves attenuates 6-hydroxydopamine-induced anxiety, depression and oxidative stress in rat amygdala

“…However, it is suggested that apigenin has a clear anxiolytic-like effect in mice, without evidencing sedation or muscle relaxation effects. This effect could be mediated by the action of GABA receptor complex [ 40 ]. In agreement with these reports, our high-apigenin containing aqueous extract has increased anxiolytic-like behavior and exploratory activity in 6-OHDA-treated rats.…”

The genotoxic and anti-genotoxic effects of Stachys petrokosmos leaf extract in human lymphocytes using microsomal fractions

“…Flavonoids and glycosides with other substances like germacrene, stachysoosides E-H, pinene, iridoid glycoside and stachyssaponin were found in the extracts of Stachys species according to GC-MS analyzing method (Lenherr et al 1984;Sajjadi and Amiri 2007;Ahmad et al 2008;Murata et al 2008;Giuliani et al 2009;Ozturk et al 2009). In addition, there are a lot of substances specified to Stachys species such as chlorogenic asit, phenidon, naphthalene, betulinic-acid, D-camphor, delphinidin, hyperoside, manganese, oleanolic acid, rosmarinic acid, urcolic acid, apigenin and tannin (Delazar et al 2005;Ivanova et al 2009;Savic et al 2010). However, the contents of Stachys petrokosmos leaf extract are not reported.…”

“…Sp is endemic in Turkey and it is a 5-10 cm long plant with bushes, flowering at spring and lives at 900-1,100 m, in rocky places of Turkey. The members of the Stachys genus have been used as a medicine for centuries because it contains useful substances such as alpha-and beta-phellandrene, elemol, betulinic acid, D-camphor, delphinidin, hyperoside, saponins, tannins, manganese, urcolic acid, apigenin, rosmarinic acid, oleanolic acid, chlorogenic acid, phenidon, naphthalene and Lavandulifolioside B (Delazar et al 2005;Ivanova et al 2009;Savic et al 2010;Ali et al 2010;Delazar et al 2011). In addition, there are a lot of reports on substances characterized by GC-MS such as phenol, flavonoids, germacrene, stachysosides E-H, alpha and beta-pinene, iridoid glycoside and stachyssaponin which are specific to the Stachy genus (Lenherr et al 1984;Sajjadi and Amiri 2007;Ahmad et al 2008;Murata et al 2008;Giuliani et al 2009;Ozturk et al 2009).…”

Members of the family <i>Lamiaceae</i> Lindl. as sources of medicinal plant raw materials to obtain neurotropic drugs

“…S. alpine subsp. dinarica turned out to be the most promising for the preparation of a sedative drug [178].…”