Atividade hipnótico-sedativa e neuromodulação GABAérgica na ação ansiolítica do óleo essencial de citrus limon (l.) burm f. em camundongos

Abstract

The high prevalence of people affected by any anxiety disorder associated with the side effects of long-term pharmacotherapy has made possible and motivated the search for new therapies. As complementary and alternative therapy, tisanes obtained from leaves, bark and flowers of many species of the genus Citrus are used by the population in order to minimize emotional disorders and are recommended in the treatment of anxiety. Nocontexto the search for new compounds anti-anxiety drugs and hypnotic sedatives, the present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action anxiolytic and hypnotic-sedative in vivo activity of essential oil of fruit rinds of Citrus limon (OECl). The experimental procedures were performed with the essential oil in the form in which it is marketed (Ferquima IND. e com. Ltda, São Paulo). Were used Swiss mice (n = 8), adults, males, weighing 25-35 g, from the Vivarium of the Federal University of Alagoas. Tests for potentiation of sleep induced by barbiturate-in order to evaluate its effect on sleep – besides the maze in high cross (LCE) and light and dark (CCE) agonists and antagonists using the tracks and/or Gabaergic neurotransmission-in order to evaluate the anxiolytic action mechanism; as well as the evaluation of a possible compromise engine, through the testing of rotary bar and catalepsy, were carried out in the laboratory of Pharmacology and immunity. The potentiation of sleep, oral treatment with OECl at a dose of 300 mg/kg decreased latency and increased the total time of sleep (p < 0.001). In experimental models of anxiety, the OECl (in doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg) induced an increase in the number of entries and the percentage of time in with open arms and, consequently, reduced the same parameters to the arms closed when compared to vehicle group in the ICE. In addition, these same doses increased the number of transitions and the percentage of time in the area clear in CCE, compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The anxiolytic action mechanism of OECl has been investigated through the pre-treatment with flumazenil, NAN-190 and ketanserin in same models of anxiety. The anxiolytic effect was antagonized by pretreatment with only flumazenil. In the evaluation of motor performance, there were no prejudice on motor function of animals in the testing of rotary bar and catalepsy. The results suggest that oral treatment with OECl induces a behavior anxiolytic in mice suggestively modulated by binding site on the GABAA receptor benzodiazepine or by increased Gabaergic transmission neuro, so there is no compromise of locomotive system.