Ethanolic extract of Rubia peregrina L. (Rubiaceae) inhibits haloperidol-induced catalepsy and reserpine-induced orofacial dyskinesia.
In the traditional Sardinian system of medicine, Rubia peregrina L. (Rubiaceae) is reported as an aphrodisiac herb. Since the aphrodisiacs may also have antioxidant and dopaminergic activities, the aim of this study was to study the effect of ethanolic extract of aerial parts of R. peregrina for the scavenging of free DPPH radicals and the inhibition of haloperidol-induced catalepsy in mice and reserpine-induced orofacial dyskinesia in rats. The extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity in a free radical DPPH assay with IC(50) = 55.6 µg mL(-1), which was very close to IC(50) of ascorbic acid. The extract of R. peregrina (100 and 200 mg kg(-1) intraperitoneally, i.p.) significantly inhibited haloperidol (1 mg kg(-1) i.p.) - induced catalepsy in mice (p < 0.01). In rats, the extract (200 mg kg(-1) i.p.) significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited the orofacial dyskinesia induced by intraperitoneal administration of reserpine (1 mg kg(-1) on days 1, 3 and 5). This study demonstrates that R. peregrina has antioxidant activity and improves the dopaminergic function. Results therefore justify the development of further experiments to investigate the psychopharmacological profile of R. peregrina.
Department of Botanical Sciences , University of Cagliari, Viale Sant'Ignazio 13, Cagliari, Italy. a.maxia@unica.it
Andrea
A
Maxia
Maria Assunta
MA
Frau
Caterina
C
Foddis
Maria Cristina
MC
Lancioni
Veena
V
Kasture
Sanjay
S
Kasture
D000818:Animals; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D012110:Reserpine / Q000633:toxicity*; D045470:Rubia / Q000737:chemistry*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol; D012110:Reserpine; D006220:Haloperidol