title: Anxiolytic-like, stimulant and neuroprotective effects of Ilex paraguariensis extracts in mice.
abstract: Yerba-mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil.) is the most used beverage in Latin America with approximately 426 thousand of tons consumed per year. Considering the broad use of this plant, we aimed to investigate the anxiety-like and stimulant activity of both the hydroethanolic (HE) and aqueous (AE) extracts from leaves of I. paraguariensis. Swiss mice were treated with I. paraguariensis HE or AE chronically or acutely, respectively, followed by evaluation in the elevated plus-maze (EPM; anxiety-like paradigm), open field (OF; locomotor activity) or the step-down avoidance task (memory assessment). Following behavioral protocols the brains were collected for evaluation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity ex vivo. Chronic treatment with HE induced an anxiolytic-like effect and increased motor activity besides augmented AChE activity. Additionally, acute treatment with AE prevented the scopolamine-induced memory deficit in the step-down avoidance task. Overall, our results indicate the importance of the I. paraguariensis-induced CNS effects, since it is a widely used nutraceutical. We have reported anxiolytic, stimulant and neuroprotective effects for this plant species. These effects are potentially modulated by the cholinergic system as well as by caffeine.
authors: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88049-970 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors: E C S
authors: EC
authors: Santos
authors: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88049-970 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Bicca
authors: Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88049-970 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors: C H
authors: CH
authors: Blum-Silva
authors: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88049-970 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors: A P R
authors: AP
authors: Costa
authors: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88049-970 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Dos Santos
authors: Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88049-970 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors: E P
authors: EP
authors: Schenkel
authors: Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88049-970 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Farina
authors: Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88049-970 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors: F H
authors: FH
authors: Reginatto
authors: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, 88049-970 Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Electronic address: thereza.lima@ufsc.br.
authors: T C M
authors: TC
authors: de Lima
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D002110:Caffeine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D030019:Ilex paraguariensis / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010789:Phototherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012601:Scopolamine
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002110:Caffeine; D012601:Scopolamine; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase
keywords: Ilex paraguariensis; anxiety; caffeine; memory; stimulant