title: Passiflora incarnata L. Improves Spatial Memory, Reduces Stress, and Affects Neurotransmission in Rats.
abstract: Passiflora incarnata L. has been used as a medicinal plant in South America and Europe since the 16th century. Previous pharmacological studies focused mainly on the plant's sedative, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant effects on the central nervous system and its supporting role in the treatment of addiction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the behavioral and neurochemical effects of long-term oral administration of P. incarnata. The passionflower extract (30, 100, or 300 mg/kg body weight/day) was given to 4-week-old male Wistar rats via their drinking water. Tests were conducted after 7 weeks of treatment. Spatial memory was assessed in a water maze, and the levels of amino acids, monoamines, and their metabolites were evaluated in select brain regions by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We observed reduced anxiety and dose-dependent improvement of memory in rats given passionflower compared to the control group. In addition, hippocampal glutamic acid and cortical serotonin content were depleted, with increased levels of metabolites and increased turnover. Thus, our results partially confirmed the proposed mechanism of action of P. incarnata involving GABAA receptors. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jawna-Zboińska
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Kamilla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blecharz-Klin
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Joniec-Maciejak
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wawer
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pyrzanowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piechal
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.|2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Sobieskiego 9, 02-957, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Dagmara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mirowska-Guzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology CePT, Banacha 1B, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Widy-Tyszkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D029598:Passiflora / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D065852:Spatial Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Passiflora incarnata; anxiety; glutamic acid; passionflower; serotonin; spatial memory