title: Mikania glomerata: Phytochemical, Pharmacological, and Neurochemical Study.
abstract: The present study primarily aims to identify the relative density and the fatty acids (methyl esters) content present in the standardized ethanol extract of leaves of M. glomerata (EPMG). Meanwhile, in a second moment, this study evaluated the effects of the EPMG on the levels of amino acids in the hippocampus, and the mechanism of sedative and anxiolytic action. Adult mice were treated with doses of 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg and evaluated in open field, elevated plus-maze, light dark, and rotarod tests. Moreover, in the behavioral tests diazepam (GABAergic anxiolytic, 2 mg/kg) as positive control and flumazenil (GABA antagonist, 2.5 mg/kg) were used to identify mechanism of sedative and anxiolytic action produced by EPMG. The EPMG is constituted by the following compounds: methyl cinnamate, 2H-1-benzopyran-2-one, (2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl propionate, (Z)-methyl-hexadec-7-enoate, methyl hexadecanoate, hexadecanoic acid, (Z)-methyl-octadec-9-enoate, octadecanoic acid, and squalene. This extract demonstrated anxiolytic effects, which may be mediated by GABAergic system, and was able to increase GABA levels and reduce of glutamate and aspartate concentrations in mice hippocampus, which can directly and/or indirectly assist in their anxiolytic effect. Although more studies are needed, the EPMG could represent an interesting therapeutical strategy in the treatment of anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Neuroquímica Experimental do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Piauí, 64049-550 Teresina, PI, Brazil ; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Universidade Federal do Piauí, 64049-550 Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lorena C L R
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Neuroquímica Experimental do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Piauí, 64049-550 Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria R M
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Neuroquímica Experimental do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Piauí, 64049-550 Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: George L S
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Neuroquímica Experimental do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Piauí, 64049-550 Teresina, PI, Brazil ; Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências da Natureza, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Campus Universitário Ministro Petrônio Portella, Bairro Ininga, 64049-550 Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônia M G L
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Citó
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, 44031-460 Feira de Santana, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clayton Q
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, 40170-290 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juceni P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, 40170-290 Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmácia, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Neuroquímica Experimental do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Piauí, 64049-550 Teresina, PI, Brazil ; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia (RENORBIO), Universidade Federal do Piauí, 64049-550 Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rivelilson M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: de Freitas