Passiflora incarnata attenuation of neuropathic allodynia and vulvodynia apropos GABA-ergic and opioidergic antinociceptive and behavioural mechanisms

Abstract

Background: Passiflora incarnata is widely used as an anxiolytic and sedative due to its putative GABAergic properties. Passiflora incarnata L. methanolic extract (PI-ME) was evaluated in an animal model of streptozotocininduced diabetic neuropathic allodynia and vulvodynia in rats along with antinociceptive, anxiolytic and sedative activities in mice in order to examine possible underlying mechanisms. Methods: PI-ME was tested preliminary for qualitative phytochemical analysis and then quantitatively by proximate and GC-MS analysis. The antinociceptive property was evaluated using the abdominal constriction assay and hot plate test. The anxiolytic activity was performed in a stair case model and sedative activity in an open field test. The antagonistic activities were evaluated using naloxone and/or pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). PI-ME was evaluated for prospective anti-allodynic and anti-vulvodynic properties in a rat model of streptozotocin induced neuropathic pain using the static and dynamic testing paradigms of mechanical allodynia and vulvodynia. Results: GC-MS analysis revealed that PI-ME contained predominant quantities of oleamide (9-octadecenamide), palmitic acid (hexadecanoic acid) and 3-hydroxy-dodecanoic acid, among other active constituents. In the abdominal constriction assay and hot plate test, PI-ME produced dose dependant, naloxone and pentylenetetrazole reversible antinociception suggesting an involvement of opioidergic and GABAergic mechanisms. In the stair case test, PI-ME at 200 mg/kg increased the number of steps climbed while at 600 mg/kg a significant decrease was observed. The rearing incidence was diminished by PI-ME at all tested doses and in the open field test, PI-ME decreased locomotor activity to an extent that was analagous to diazepam. The effects of PI-ME were antagonized by PTZ in both the staircase and open field tests implicating GABAergic mechanisms in its anxiolytic and sedative activities. In the streptozotocin-induced neuropathic nociceptive model, PI-ME (200 and 300 mg/kg) exhibited static and dynamic anti-allodynic effects exemplified by an increase in paw withdrawal threshold and paw withdrawal latency. PI-ME relieved only the dynamic component of vulvodynia by increasing flinching response latency.

GABA‐modulating phytomedicines for anxiety: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence

“…A second study (Sampath, Holbik, Krenn, & Butterweck, ) used differential EPM performances in male C57BL/6 J mice to ascertain optimal fractionalisation methods, and a third (Wolfman, Viola, Paladini, Dajas, & Medina, ) used anxiolytic and sedative paradigms (EPM, hole board and horizontal wire) in male CF1 mice to examine the constituent chrysin (5,7‐dihydroxyflavone) with a diazepam comparator, reporting no significant differences in anxiolytic effect, but an increase to head‐dipping and myo‐relaxant properties via horizontal wire test in the BDZ group. Finally, a recent study (Aman et al, ) observed anxiolytic and sedative effects of P. incarnata in staircase and open field tests, with BALB/c mice and female Sprague Dawley rats, which were antagonised by pentylenetetrazole, indicating the behavioural effects of P. incarnata occurred through GABA‐ergic mechanisms; however, precise mechanisms were again unclear.…”

“…Aman et al (); Dhawan et al (); Elsas et al (); Grundmann et al (); Sampath et al (), Wolfman et al ()…”

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils of Passiflora Edulis F. Flavicarpa Agroindustrial Waste

“…In addition, ethyl 9-hexadecenoate was detected just in seeds too. On the contrary, it has been detected in aerial parts of Passiflora incarnate L. methanolic extract (Aman et al, 2016).…”

StandardizedPassiflora incarnataL. Extract Reverts the Analgesia Induced by Alcohol Withdrawal in Rats

“…However, it is plausible that binding to the GABA‐site of the GABA A receptor is one mode of action of the plant extract (Appel et al, ). Evaluating the attenuation effects of P. incarnata in neuropathic allodynia and vulvodynia, it was suggested that the methanolic extract of the plant possesses peripheral and central phasic as well as tonic anti‐nociceptive activity, mediated through modulation of GABA A and opioid receptors (Aman et al, ).…”