Central nervous system effects of the essential oil of the leaves of Alpinia zerumbet in mice.
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.
de Araújo
Fernanda Yvelize Ramos
FY
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Silva
Maria Izabel Gomes
MI
Moura
Brinell Arcanjo
BA
de Oliveira
Gersilene Valente
GV
Leal
Luzia Kalyne A Moreira
LK
Vasconcelos
Silvânia Maria Mendes
SM
Viana
Glauce Socorro Barros
GS
de Moraes
Manoel Odorico
MO
de Sousa
Francisca Cléa Florenço
FC
Macêdo
Danielle Silveira
DS
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
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006220:Haloperidol; D001058:Apomorphine