title: Possible anxiolytic effect of two extracts of Passiflora quadrangularis L. in experimental models.
abstract: Several species of the genus Passiflora, known in Brazil as 'maracujá', have widespread use in folk medicine as sedatives and anxiolytics. The anxiolytic activities of aqueous and hydroalcohol extracts of Passiflora quadrangularis leaves were evaluated using the elevated plus-maze, open field and holeboard tests. The hydroalcohol extract presented results suggestive of anxiolytic activity in dosages around 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg, as expressed by elevation of the time spent on the open arms in the plus-maze; a decrease of freezing and an increase of deambulation and rearing in the open field test. The hydroalcohol extract showed results similar to diazepam on the holeboard. No positive results were found for the aqueous extract.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology, UEPA, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pollyanna Celso F
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.forename: Jair Campos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Fúlvio Rieli
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Mendes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D029598:Passiflora / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003975:Diazepam