HPLC/MS analysis and anxiolytic-like effect of quercetin and kaempferol flavonoids from Tilia americana var. mexicana.
OBJECTIVE
Around the world, Tilia species have been used in traditional medicine for their properties as tranquilizer. Furthermore, Mexican species of Tilia have been grouped as Tilia americana var. mexicana, but their specific content in flavonoids is poorly described. In this study, inflorescences of Mexican Tilia were collected in three different regions of Mexico to compare their flavonoid content and anxiolytic-like response.


METHODS
Flavonoid content was analyzed by using an HPLC-MS technique. For anxiolytic-like response, Tilia inflorescences extracts (from 10 to 300 mg/kg, i.p.) were tested in experimental models (open-field, hole-board and plus-maze tests, as well as sodium pentobarbital-induced hypnosis) in mice.


RESULTS
HPLC-MS analysis revealed specific peaks of flavonoid composition demonstrating some differences in these compounds in flowers and bracts depending on the region of collection. No differences in the neuropharmacological activity among these samples of Tilia were found. Moreover, their effects were associated with quercetin and kaempferol glycosides.


CONCLUSIONS
Dissimilarities in the flavonoid composition of Mexican Tilias might imply that these species must be re-classified in more than one species, not as a unique Tilia americana var. mexicana. Since quercetin and kaempferol aglycons demonstrated anxiolytic-like response and that no difference in the pharmacological evaluation was observed between these three Mexican Tilias, we suggest that this pharmacological effect of Tilia inflorescences involves these flavonoids occurrence independently of the kind of glycosides present in the samples reinforcing their use in traditional medicine in several regions of Mexico.
Aguirre-Hernández
Eva
E
Dirección de Investigaciones en Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calz México-Xochimilco 101, Col San Lorenzo Huipulco, 14370 México, DF, Mexico.
González-Trujano
Ma Eva
ME
Martínez
Ana Laura
AL
Moreno
Julia
J
Kite
Geoffrey
G
Terrazas
Teresa
T
Soto-Hernández
Marcos
M
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006027:Glycosides / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D006991:Hypnosis, Anesthetic; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D056626:Inflorescence / Q000737:chemistry; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008800:Mexico; D051379:Mice; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011794:Quercetin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D013045:Species Specificity; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D032384:Tilia / Q000737:chemistry*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D006027:Glycosides; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D044949:Kaempferols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011794:Quercetin; D010424:Pentobarbital