title: Ethnopharmacology of Souroubea sympetala and Souroubea gilgii (Marcgraviaceae) and identification of betulinic acid as an anxiolytic principle.
abstract: The neotropical lianas Souroubea gilgii and Souroubea sympetala (Marcgraviaceae) were chosen for study as part of a phytochemical discovery strategy focusing on rare plant families in Central America. In participatory research, Q'eqchi' healers in Belize reported the use of these plants to reverse psychological symptoms inflicted by witchcraft. Extracts of two Souroubea species showed significant anti-anxiety activity in the elevated plus maze, a standardized test paradigm. Bioassay guided isolation led to the active principle, the pentacyclic triterpene, betulinic acid, which had activity in the elevated plus maze at 0.5mg/kg. Other phytochemicals isolated included α- and β-amyrin, 2-hydroxyursolic acid, taraxenyl trans-4-hydroxy-cinnamate, naringenin, methyl ursolate, eriodytiol, methyl 2-α-hydroxyursolate, methyl 2-α-hydroxymaslinate, methyl betulinate, and condrilla sterol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puniani
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, School of Psychology and Department of Cellular Medicine, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, School of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cayer
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, School of Psychology and Department of Cellular Medicine, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, School of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mullally
authors.affiliation: JVR Herbaium Universidad Nacional, Heredia 3000, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Vindas
authors.affiliation: JVR Herbaium Universidad Nacional, Heredia 3000, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poveda Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Belize Indigenous Training Institute, Punta Gorda, Belize.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cal
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, School of Psychology and Department of Cellular Medicine, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, School of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Zul
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Merali
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada. Electronic address: John.Arnason@uOttawa.ca.
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Arnason
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Durst
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003364:Costa Rica; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
chemical_list: C412810:2-hydroxyursolic acid; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes; C454321:methyl ursolate; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; C036380:beta-amyrin; D003975:Diazepam; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
keywords: Anxiety; Anxiolysis; Betulinic acid; Elevated plus maze; Marcgraviaceae; Souroubea gilgii and S. sympetala