The role of polar phytocomplexes on anticonvulsant effects of leaf extracts of Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown chemotypes.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present work was to characterize the pharmacological profile of different L. alba chemotypes and to correlate the obtained data to the presence of chemical constituents detected by phytochemical analysis.


METHODS
Essential oils from each L. alba chemotype (LP1-LP7) were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and extracted non-volatile compounds were analysed by HPLC and GC-MS. The anticonvulsant actions of the extracted compounds were studied in pentylenetetrazole-induced clonic seizures in mice and their effect on motor coordination was studied using the rota-rod test in rats. The synaptosomes and synaptic membranes of the rats were examined for the influence of LP3 chemotype extract on GABA uptake and binding experiments.


RESULTS
Behavioural parameters encompassed by the pentylenetetrazole test indicated that 80% ethanolic extracts of LP1, LP3 and LP6 L. alba chemotypes were more effective as anticonvulsant agents. Neurochemical assays using synaptosomes and synaptic membranes showed that L. alba LP3 chemotype 80% ethanolic extract inhibited GABA uptake and GABA binding in a dose-dependent manner. HPLC analysis showed that LP1, LP3 and LP6 80% ethanolic extracts presented a similar profile of constituents, differing from those seen in LP2, LP4, LP5 and LP7 80% ethanolic extracts, which exhibited no anticonvulsant effect. GC-MS analysis indicated the occurrence of phenylpropanoids in methanolic fractions obtained from LP1, LP3 and LP6 80% ethanolic extracts and also the accumulation of inositol and flavonoids in hydroalcoholic fractions.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the anticonvulsant properties shown by L. alba might be correlated to the presence of a complex of non-volatile substances (phenylpropanoids, flavonoids and/or inositols), and also to the volatile terpenoids (beta-myrcene, citral, limonene and carvone), which have been previously validated as anticonvulsants.
Neto
Antônio C
AC
Unidade de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil.
Netto
Joaquim C
JC
Pereira
Paulo S
PS
Pereira
Ana M S
AM
Taleb-Contini
Sílvia H
SH
França
Suzelei C
SC
Marques
Márcia O M
MO
Beleboni
René O
RO
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D032411:Lippia / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D005419:Flavonoids; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013729:Terpenes; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole