[Isovaleramide, an anticonvulsant molecule isolated from Valeriana pavonii].
BACKGROUND
Fractioning of an extract of Valeriana pavonii, a native species used in Colombian folk medicine as tranquilizer, led to the isolation and identification of isovaleramide, one of the active constituents responsible for its central nervous system activity as anticonvulsant.


OBJECTIVE
Description of the isolation and identification of isovaleramide, an active principle on central nervous system from Valeriana pavonii.


METHODS
The purification of isovaleramide was carried out by chromatographic techniques. Its structural elucidation was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Maximal electroshock seizure was used as in vivo pharmacological test, additionally in vitro GABA-A/BDZ-binding site studies were performed.


RESULTS
Isovaleramide was isolated from the most active fraction of Valeriana pavonii. This compound, at 100 mg/Kg, p.o, evidenced a 90% index protection against the maximal electroshock seizure in mice (MES), comparable to the reference agent: sodium phenytoin (20 mg/kg, p.o, 100%). In the in vitro assay, isovaleramide (300 µM) exhibited a 42% of inhibition of the binding of ³H-FNZ to its sites.


CONCLUSIONS
Isovaleramide is one of the active anticonvulsant constituents of Valeriana pavonii, for the first time reported in this species. These results support the traditional use of Valeriana pavonii and its interest as a therapeutic source.
Giraldo
Sara Emilia
SE
Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, DC, Colombia.
Rincón
Javier
J
Puebla
Pilar
P
Marder
Mariel
M
Wasowski
Cristina
C
Vergel
Nadezdha
N
Guerrero
Mario Francisco
MF
D000577:Amides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D014632:Valerian / Q000737:chemistry*
D000577:Amides; D000927:Anticonvulsants; C038165:isovaleramide