title: [Isovaleramide, an anticonvulsant molecule isolated from Valeriana pavonii].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, DC, Colombia.
authors.forename: Sara Emilia
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Giraldo
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rincón
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puebla
authors.forename: Mariel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marder
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wasowski
authors.forename: Nadezdha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vergel
authors.forename: Mario Francisco
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Guerrero
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D014632:Valerian / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000927:Anticonvulsants; C038165:isovaleramide