Involvement of 5-HT1A Receptors in the Anxiolytic-Like Effects of Quercitrin and Evidence of the Involvement of the Monoaminergic System.
Quercitrin is a well-known flavonoid that is contained in Flos Albiziae, which has been used for the treatment of anxiety. The present study investigated the anxiolytic-like effects of quercitrin in experimental models of anxiety. Compared with the control group, repeated treatment with quercitrin (5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for seven days significantly increased the percentage of entries into and time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze. In the light/dark box test, quercitrin exerted an anxiolytic-like effect at 5 and 10 mg/kg. In the marble-burying test, quercitrin (5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) also exerted an anxiolytic-like effect. Furthermore, quercitrin did not affect spontaneous locomotor activity. The anxiolytic-like effects of quercitrin in the elevated plus maze and light/dark box test were blocked by the serotonin-1A (5-hydroxytryptamine-1A (5-HT1A)) receptor antagonist WAY-100635 (3.0 mg/kg, i.p.) but not by the γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptor antagonist flumazenil (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.). The levels of brain monoamines (5-HT and dopamine) and their metabolites (5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and homovanillic acid) were decreased after quercitrin treatment. These data suggest that the anxiolytic-like effects of quercitrin might be mediated by 5-HT1A receptors but not by benzodiazepine site of GABAA receptors. The results of the neurochemical studies suggest that these effects are mediated by modulation of the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters.
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100102, China.
Jian
J
Li
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100102, China.
Qian-Tong
QT
Liu
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100102, China.
Yi
Y
Chen
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100102, China.
Jie
J
Liu
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100102, China.
Jin-Li
JL
Shi
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100102, China.
Yong
Y
Liu
Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Jian-You
JY
Guo