title: Central nervous system activity of the proanthocyanidin-rich fraction obtained from Croton celtidifolius in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible neurobehavioural effects in rats of the proanthocyanidin-rich fraction (PRF) isolated from the bark of Croton celtidifolius (Euphorbiaceae).
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult Wistar rats were treated with the PRF (0.3-30 mg/kg) and evaluated in different behavioural paradigms classically used for the screening of drugs with psychoactive effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acute intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of PRF decreased spontaneous locomotor activity (open field arena and activity cage), enhanced the duration of ethyl ether-induced hypnosis, increased the latency to the first convulsion induced by pentylenetetrazole (60 mg/kg, i.p.) and attenuated apomorphine-induced (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) stereotyped behaviour. In lower doses, PRF (0.3 or 3 mg/kg, i.p.) increased the frequency of open arm entries in the elevated plus-maze test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings suggest that the systemic administration of PRF induces a wide spectrum of behavioural alterations in rats, consistent with the putative existence of hypnosedative, anticonvulsant and anxiolytic compounds.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo L G
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rial
authors.forename: Filipe S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Cristiane Ribeiro
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Heros
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horst
authors.forename: Moacir G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pizzolatti
authors.forename: Rui D S
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Prediger
authors.forename: Rosa Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro-do-Valle
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003243:Consciousness / Q000187:drug effects; D029802:Croton / Q000737:chemistry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004986:Ether / Q000494:pharmacology; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D004986:Ether; D001058:Apomorphine; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole