title: Pharmacological profile of apigenin, a flavonoid isolated from Matricaria chamomilla.
abstract: Dried flowers of Matricaria chamomilla L. are largely used to provide sedative as well as spasmolytic effects. In the present study, we examined in particular the pharmacological property of a fraction isolated from a methanolic extract of M. chamomilla, which was identified by HPLC-MS-MS analysis as apigenin. By radioreceptor binding assays, we demonstrated the ability of the flavone to displace a specific radioligand, [(3)H]Ro 15-1788, from the central benzodiazepine binding site. Electrophysiological studies performed on cultured cerebellar granule cells showed that apigenin reduced GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)-activated Cl(-) currents in a dose-dependent fashion. The effect was blocked by co-application of Ro 15-1788, a specific benzodiazepine receptor antagonist. Accordingly, apigenin reduced the latency in the onset of picrotoxin-induced convulsions. Moreover, apigenin injected i.p. in rats reduced locomotor activity, but did not demonstrate anxiolytic, myorelaxant, or anticonvulsant activities. The present results seem to suggest that the inhibitory activity of apigenin on locomotor behaviour in rats cannot be ascribed to an interaction with GABA(A)-benzodiazepine receptor but to other neurotransmission systems, since it is not blocked by Ro 15-1788.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chair of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Modena and Reggio Emilia University, 41100, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Avallone
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zanoli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Puia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kleinschnitz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schreier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baraldi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D047310:Apigenin; D001665:Binding Sites; D020843:Chamomile / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D005419:Flavonoids; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D047310:Apigenin