title: Ethnopharmacology of Q'eqchi' Maya antiepileptic and anxiolytic plants: effects on the GABAergic system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Q'eqchi' Maya possess a large selection of plants to treat neurological disorders, including epilepsy and susto (fright), a culture-bound illness related to anxiety disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the activity of antiepileptic and anxiolytic plants in the GABAergic system, and determine if there is a pharmacological basis for plant selection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ethanol extracts of 34 plants were tested in vitro for their ability to inhibit GABA-transaminase (GABA-T) or bind to the GABA(A)-benzodiazepine (BZD) receptor, two principal drug targets in epilepsy and anxiety. Pharmacological activity was correlated with relative frequency of use, based on informant consensus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten plants showed greater than 50% GABA-T inhibition at 1mg/ml, while 23 showed greater than 50% binding to the GABA(A)-BZD receptor at 250 microg/ml. Piperaceae, Adiantaceae and Acanthaceae families were highly represented and active in both assays. There was a significant positive correlation between GABA-T inhibition and relative frequency of use for epilepsy, and an even stronger correlation between GABA(A) binding and relative frequency of use for susto (fright).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clearly, Q'eqchi' traditional knowledge of antiepileptic and anxiolytic plants is associated with the use of pharmacologically active plants. Based on the evidence, it is suggested that the mechanism of action for some traditionally used plants may be mediated through the GABAergic system.
authors: Biology Department, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Rosalie
authors: R
authors: Awad
authors: Fida
authors: F
authors: Ahmed
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Bourbonnais-Spear
authors: Martha
authors: M
authors: Mullally
authors: Chieu Anh
authors: CA
authors: Ta
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Tang
authors: Zul
authors: Z
authors: Merali
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Maquin
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Caal
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Cal
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Poveda
authors: Pablo Sanchez
authors: PS
authors: Vindas
authors: Vance L
authors: VL
authors: Trudeau
authors: John T
authors: JT
authors: Arnason
mesh_terms: D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D001531:Belize; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007197:Indians, Central American; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D013634:Tannins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D013634:Tannins; D000612:4-Aminobutyrate Transaminase