The Flavonoid Glycosides, Myricitrin, Gossypin and Naringin Exert Anxiolytic Action in Mice

Abstract

The consumption of flavonoid-rich foods, in particular fruits and vegetables, has been epidemiologically associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, neurodegenerative disease, cancer and other chronic diseases. Flavonoid glycosides, the main class of flavonoids, have been shown to exert CNS-mediated activities, particularly as sedative-hypnotics, analgesics or both, nevertheless no studies have evaluated these agents in anxiety. This study assessed the potential anxiolytic effect of three flavonoid glycosides, myrcitrin, naringin and gossypin, in the elevated plus maze test (EPM). Myricitrin (1 mg/kg) was effective on the EPM showing a clear anxiolytic effect with no signs of sedation. However, higher doses showed possible sedative and myorelaxation effects. Gossypin and naringin both shared a similar profile, with low doses (1 mg/kg) inducing a robust anxiolytic effect which diminished with increasing doses of the flavonoids. Higher doses of these two flavonoids showed a dramatic increase in the open arm exploration accompanied by a decrease in locomotor activity. Hence, naringin (30 mg/kg) and gossypin (30 mg/kg) induce both anxiolytic and sedative effects. These results suggest that flavonoid glycosides have the potential to exert a range of CNS-mediated biological activities.

The protective effect of Hypericum connatum on stress-induced escape deficit in rat is related to its flavonoid content

“…Isoquercitrin, quercetin and rutin did not modify the performance in the EPM test at the doses that had protective effect on stress-induced ED. These results are at variance with other studies showing that flavonoids are endowed with in vivo anxiolytic effects in rodents (Herrera-Ruiz et al 2008;Fernandez et al 2009;Grundmann et al 2009). This discrepancy may arise from species differences, as many studies were performed in mice (Herrera-Ruiz et al 2008;Fernandez et al 2009;Grundmann et al 2009).…”

Protective effect of naringin against ankylosing spondylitis via ossification, inflammation and oxidative stress in mice

“…Naringin exhibits a wide range of biological activities, including anti-oxidation (10), bone growth promotion (11), plasma cholesterol reduction (12), anti-atherosclerotic (13), sedative (14), anti-tumor (15) and anti-fungal (16) properties. However, the protective effect of naringin against AS and the underlying molecular mechanism, including the signal pathways affecting ossification, inflammation and oxidative stress, remain unclear.…”

Chemical composition of hydroethanolic extracts from Siparuna guianensis, medicinal plant used as anxiolytics in Amazon region

“…Flavonoid glycosides, showed to exert central nervous system mediated activities, particularly as sedative-hypnotics, analgesics and anxiolytic (de Castro et al, 2007;Fernandez et al, 2009;Elsas et al, 2010). Myricitrin and naringin exhibited anxiolytic effects with no signs of sedation (Fernandez et al, 2009).…”