title: Newtonoate as an active principle of Newtonia griffoniana for anxiolytic activity in Swiss mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Newtonia griffoniana (Mimosaceae) is a Central African rain forest tree, whose bark extracts are used in Cameroonian folk medicine for the treatment of anxiety and sleep disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the anxiolytic effects of N. griffoniana stem bark methanol extract and its major isolated constituent 2,3,4-trihydroxybutylpentatriacontanoate (newtonoate) on the elevated plus maze.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant increases in the percentage of entries into open arms were induced by both N. griffoniana extract (100 and 150 mg/kg BW; p<0.01) and newtonoate (doses of 3 and 15 mg/kg BW; p<0.05). Conversely, decreases in the percentage of entries into closed arms were observed at the same doses. In addition, N. griffoniana methanol extract (100 mg/kg) and the isolated newtonoate (30 mg/kg) induced significant (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) increases in the time spent in the open arms, while inducing a decrease in the time spent in the closed arms. Newtonoate treatment also decreased head dipping number at doses of 3 and 15 mg/kg, while N. griffoniana methanol extract induced the same effect at 200 mg/kg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that N. griffoniana bark extract has anxiolytic properties, which justify its use in folk medicine. Such effects are at least partly mediated by newtonoate.
authors.forename: Sefirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Djiogue
authors.forename: Mc Jesus
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kinyok
authors.forename: Germain Jean Magloire
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ketcha Wanda
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zemo Gamo
authors.forename: Paul Faustin
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Seke Etet
authors.forename: Armel Herve
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Nwabo Kamdje
authors.forename: Dieudonné Emmanuel
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Pegnyemb
authors.forename: Dieudonné
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Njamen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002163:Cameroon; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018547:Plant Stems
chemical_list: C000609772:2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl pentatriacontanoate; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010936:Plant Extracts