title: Evaluation of the anxiolytic properties of myristicin, a component of nutmeg, in the male Sprague-Dawley rat.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the anxiolytic effects of myristicin, a major compound found in nutmeg, and its potential interaction with the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) receptor in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Nutmeg has traditionally been used as a spice in food preparation and as an herbal remedy in the treatment of many medical conditions, including anxiety. Fifty-five rats were divided equally into 5 groups: control (vehicle); myristicin; midazolam (positive control); flumazenil and myristicin; and midazolam and myristicin. The behavioral component of anxiety was examined by using the elevated plus-maze (open-arm and closed-arm times) along with analysis of gross and fine motor movements. Data analysis was performed using a 2-tailed multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and least significant difference post-hoc test. Our data suggest that myristicin does not decrease anxiety by modulation of the GABA(A) receptor but may promote anxiogenesis. When myristicin was combined with midazolam, an antagonist-like effect similar to the flumazenil and myristicin combination was exhibited by a decrease in anxiolysis compared with the midazolam-only group. Myristicin may antagonize the anxiolytic effects of midazolam, increase anxiety, and affect motor movements.
authors.affiliation: William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leiter
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hitchcock
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Godwin
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sedgwick
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCall
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Ceremuga
mesh_terms: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004148:Dioxolanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008874:Midazolam / Q000494:pharmacology; D026323:Myristica / Q000737:chemistry*; D009719:Nurse Anesthetists; D011748:Pyrogallol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D004148:Dioxolanes; D018757:GABA Modulators; D011748:Pyrogallol; C005246:myristicin; D005442:Flumazenil; D008874:Midazolam