title: Central nervous system effects of the essential oil of the leaves of Alpinia zerumbet in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alpinia zerumbet, known in Brazil as colônia, is popularly used as a diuretic, antihypertensive, anti-ulcerogenic and sedative. Based on this, we have investigated the central effects of the essential oil isolated from A. zerumbet leaves.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were treated once with 50 or 100 mg/kg of the essential oil, intraperitoneally, 30 min before being submitted to behavioural models of: locomotor activity (open-field), catalepsy, anxiety (elevated plus maze), depression (forced swimming test and tail suspension tests) as well as apomorphine-induced stereotypy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed a dose-related decrease on locomotor activity and apomorphine-induced stereotypy. There was a decrease to the order of 55% of the grooming behaviour with both doses studied. The essential oil 100 mg/kg increased cataleptic activity (167%) and the immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension tests. Pretreatment with haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) alone also decreased locomotion, increased cataleptic activity and immobility time in the tail suspension test. No alterations in the elevated plus maze test were registered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The essential oil of A. zerumbet leaves had depressant and possible antipsychotic activity, since it could reverse the stereotypy induced by apomorphine, presenting effects comparable with those obtained with haloperidol treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Yvelize Ramos
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.forename: Maria Izabel Gomes
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Brinell Arcanjo
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: Gersilene Valente
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Luzia Kalyne A Moreira
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: Silvânia Maria Mendes
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Glauce Socorro Barros
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: Manoel Odorico
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.forename: Francisca Cléa Florenço
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.forename: Danielle Silveira
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Macêdo
mesh_terms: D032429:Alpinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety; D001058:Apomorphine; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002375:Catalepsy; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D018782:Maze Learning; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013623:Tail
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006220:Haloperidol; D001058:Apomorphine