Determinación del efecto sedante y ansiolítico del extracto metanólico de Erythrina edulis triana ex micheli en ratones

Abstract

The present work is an experimental study designed to investigate the sedative, anxiolytic activity and the toxicity of the methanol extract of the leaves of Erythrina edulis. Toxicity assay was performed in Artemia salina, resulting in a lethal concentration 50 of 16,57mg/mL corresponding to zero toxicity. The extract was prepared in different concentrations;125, 250 and 500mg/kg and was administered intraperitoneally in Swiss CD1 mice for both sedation and anxiety tests using diazepam (1mg/kg) as a control drug. The sleep enhancement test with pentobarbital and the traction test were used for the sedative activity. Results showed that the extract does not possess sedative activity in any of the administered doses, however, the possibility of an opposite effect was observed; an activation of the central nervous system. The anxiolytic activity was evaluated by the open field test and the elevated plus maze test, where a behavior with a low level of anxiety was observed. Altogether, the results suggest that the extract in the study may have a non-sedative anxiolytic activity which supports traditional use, however, its responses are not dose-dependent and its mechanism of action is unknown. For the statistical analysis of these tests, one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey post hoc test of multiple comparison were used, while linear regression analysis using Probyt analysis was used to determinate the degree of toxicity