title: Evaluation of the central activity of hydroxydihydrocarvone.
abstract: The central effects of hydroxydihydrocarvone (HC), an analogue of several monoterpenes, were evaluated in animal models. General behavior, locomotor activity, pentobarbital-induced sleeping time, pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsions, and acetic acid-induced writhing were evaluated in mice. The compound caused palpebral ptosis, decreased the response to touch, and increased sedation (general behavioral profile). HC (50-200 mg/kg) caused a significant dose-dependent decrease in the spontaneous motor activity of mice. This compound (100, 200 mg/kg) potentiated the pentobarbital sleeping time, indicating a depressant action. HC also protected the mice against PTZ-induced convulsions at 400 mg/kg. In the acetic acid-induced writhing, the antinociceptive activity of HC was demonstrated with a significant dose-dependent response at a dose range of 25-400 mg/kg. The present results provide evidence that HC has significant psychopharmacologic activity with depressant effects.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Tecnologia Farmacêutica, Universidade Federal da Paraíba. João Pessoa, Brazil.
authors.forename: Damião Pergentino
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Sousa Oliveira
authors.forename: Reinaldo Nóbrega
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: de Almeida
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D003292:Convulsants; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D003292:Convulsants; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; C510427:hydroxydihydrocarvone; D009020:Morphine; D010424:Pentobarbital; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole