title: Flos Albiziaeaqueous extract and its active constituent quercetin potentiate the hypnotic effect of pentobarbital via the serotonergic system.
abstract: Flos albiziae(FA) is reportedly used for treatment of insomnia and anxiety in traditional medicine. The hypnotic effect of an extract of FA (FAE) and its constituent quercetin [2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one, QR] was examined in mice. QR is a widely distributed natural flavonoid abundant in FA flowers and other tissues. The possible mechanisms underlying the hypnotic effects of FAE and QR were investigated using behavioral pharmacology. FAE and QR significantly potentiated pentobarbital-induced [50 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (ip)] sleep (prolonged sleeping time; shortened sleep latency) in a dose-dependent manner, and these effects were augmented by administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a precursor of 5-hydroxytryptamine. With a sub-hypnotic dose of pentobarbital (28 mg/kg, ip), FAE and QR significantly increased the rate of sleep onset and were synergistic with 5-HTP (2.5 mg/kg, ip). Pretreatment withp-chlorophenylalanine, an inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase, significantly decreased sleeping time and prolonged sleep latency in pentobarbital-treated mice, whereas FAE and QR significantly reversed this effect. Data show that FAE and QR have hypnotic activity, possibly mediated by the serotonergic system. The present study offers a rationale for the use of FA in treating sleep disorders associated with serotonin system dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medicine, Medical College of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Meng-Fei
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medicine, Medical College of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312000, P.R. China ; Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology, Judicial Identification Center of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medicine, Medical College of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shu-Fang
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medicine, Medical College of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhen-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Course, Shaoxing University Yuanpei College, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ai-Yue
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chun-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medicine, Medical College of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chao-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medicine, Medical College of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hua-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medicine, Medical College of Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: hypnotic; quercetin; serotonergic system