Central action of Araucaria angustifolia seed lectin in mice.
Possible central nervous system effects of the gymnosperm lectin from Araucaria angustifolia seeds were studied in seizure and open field tests. Male Swiss mice were administered saline (control), lectin (0.1, 1, and 10 mg/kg), flumazenil (1 mg/kg), or diazepam (1 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. Lectin at the highest dose increased time to death in the pentylenetetrazole- and strychnine-induced seizure models as compared with control, but not in the pilocarpine model. In the open field test, lectin reduced locomotor activity at all doses tested, as did diazepam, when compared with control. These locomotor effects were reversed by flumazenil pretreatment. In conclusion, A. angustifolia lectin had a protective effect in the pentylenetetrazole- and strychnine-induced seizure models, suggestive of activity in the GABAergic and glycinergic systems, respectively, and also caused a reduction in animal movements, which was reversed by flumazenil, pointing to a depressant action mediated by a GABAergic mechanism.
Vasconcelos
Silvânia Maria Mendes
SM
Superior Institute of Biomedical Sciences, State University of Ceará, Ceará, Brazil. silvania_vasconcelos@yahoo.com.br
Lima
Silvane R
SR
Soares
Paula Matias
PM
Assreuy
Ana Maria Sampaio
AM
de Sousa
Francisca Cléa Florenço
FC
Lobato
Rodrigo de Freitas Guimarães
Rde F
Vasconcelos
Germana Silva
GS
Santi-Gadelha
Tatiane
T
Bezerra
Eduardo Henrique Salviano
EH
Cavada
Benildo Sousa
BS
Patrocínio
Manoel Cláudio Azevedo
MC
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013331:Strychnine
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D037102:Lectins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005442:Flumazenil; D013331:Strychnine; D003975:Diazepam; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole