Pharmacodynamic interaction of the sedative effects of Ternstroemia pringlei (Rose) Standl. with six central nervous system depressant drugs in mice.
BACKGROUND
The decoction of dried fruits of Ternstroemia pringlei (Rose) Standl. (Theaceae), commonly known as "Flor de Tila", is used in the Mexican traditional medicine to diminish insomnia and fear.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the sedative effects of the dried fruits of Ternstroemia pringlei and investigate a possible synergistic pharmacodynamic interaction between the sedative effect of aqueous extract of this plant and six central nervous system (CNS) depressant drugs.


METHODS
The sedative effect was performed using the exploratory cylinder test in ICR mice. The extracts and drugs were intraperitoneally administered 30 min before testing in different doses, with exception of ethanol and buspirone which were administered 5 and 20 min before testing, respectively. An isobolographic analysis was used to characterize the interaction between Ternstroemia pringlei extract and six CNS depressant drugs.


RESULTS
The intraperitoneal administration of the hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and aqueous extracts of Ternstroemia pringlei showed a dose-dependent sedative effect. Ternstroemia pringlei aqueous extract combined with buspirone, diazepam, diphenhydramine, haloperidol or pentobarbital exerted a super-additive (synergistic) sedative interaction. Whereas the combination Ternstroemia pringlei extract plus ethanol resulted in a sub-additive (attenuate) sedative interaction.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are in agreement with the traditional use of Ternstroemia pringlei in the treatment of insomnia, however it is a plant that interacts in a complex form with CNS depressant drugs. It may represent an advertence on the use of this plant concomitantly with other neuroactive drugs.
Balderas
José Luis
JL
Facultad de Química, Departamento de Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán 04510, México, D.F., México.
Reza
Victoria
V
Ugalde
Martha
M
Guzmán
Laura
L
Serrano
Miriam Isabel
MI
Aguilar
Abigail
A
Navarrete
Andrés
A
D000818:Animals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005638:Fruit; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008800:Mexico; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D028242:Theaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents