Sedative and anxiolytic efficacy of Tilia americana var. mexicana inflorescences used traditionally by communities of State of Michoacan, Mexico.
OBJECTIVE
Increasing demand of herbal products acquired in stores and markets, as well as medicinal plants collected for personal consume are a known modern tendency. In this study, the ethnomedicinal use of Tilia americana var. mexicana inflorescences as sedative and anxiolytic is reinforced by examinating inflorescences used by communities of the State of Michoacan, Mexico.


METHODS
Experimental mouse models were used to evaluate the sodium pentobarbital (SP)-induced hypnosis potentiation, ambulatory activity, as well as sedative and anti-anxiety responses via oral administration of the aqueous extracts (10, 30 and/or 100 and 300mg/kg).


RESULTS
All samples tested produced a lengthening in the time of SP. Moreover, a significant attenuation in the anxiety-response in the plus-maze test and a diminution in both the head dipping response and ambulatory activity were observed resembling the response to diazepam (0.3mg/kg, i.p.). TLC profiles of the samples showed similar pattern of flavonoids; HPLC-DAD exhibited peaks identified as derived of quercetin and kaempferol that may be responsible for the plant activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that inflorescences of stored specimens obtained from popular local markets show the same effectiveness with regard to sedative and anxiolytic-like actions than freshly collected samples. Since no toxicity was observed through this route of administration (up to 5000mg/kg); therefore, it suggests that this plant is secure when used as tranquilizer in folk medicine.
Pérez-Ortega
G
G
Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calz., Sn Lorenzo Huipulco, 14370 México, D.F., Mexico.
Guevara-Fefer
P
P
Chávez
M
M
Herrera
J
J
Martínez
A
A
Martínez
A L
AL
González-Trujano
M E
ME
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046353:Immobility Response, Tonic / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008800:Mexico; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032384:Tilia / Q000737:chemistry*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010424:Pentobarbital; D003975:Diazepam