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Ethnopharmacological relevance Scutia buxifolia is a tree native to South America and is used as a cardiotonic agent; however, this property has not been associated with a clear mechanism or a specific compound. Aim of the study Given the importance of Na + ,K + -ATPase as a drug target in the treatment of heart failure, this study aimed to investigate the possible inhibitory effect of S. buxifolia crude extract and fractions (dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and butanolic fractions), and identified compounds with effects on the activity of Na + ,K + -ATPase in vitro . Materials and methods First, we characterized the crude extract and fractions by high-performance liquid chromatography, and then monitored their effects on the activity of Na + ,K + -ATPase obtained from heart muscle and brain membranes of adult male Wistar rats. Results We identified gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, quercitrin, quercetin, and ursolic acid in S. buxifolia stem bark and leaves; quercitrin and ursolic acid were the main compounds in the ethyl acetate and dichloromethane fractions from leaves and stem bark. The crude extract (3 and 30 mg/ml), and the ethyl acetate and dichloromethane fractions (0.1 and 1 mg/ml) of both the stem bark and leaves inhibited Na + ,K + -ATPase activity in heart and brain samples. We found that, of the identified compounds, only ursolic acid (0.1 mg/ml) was able to diminish Na + , K + -ATPase activity in heart and brain samples. Conclusions These data indicated that the cardiotonic effects of S. buxifolia may be due to the inhibition of Na + ,K + -ATPase activity in heart muscle, supporting the popular use of this plant as a treatment for heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) inhalation has been used in folk medicine for the treatment of anxiety, and clinical and animal studies have corroborated its anxiolytic effect, although its mechanism of action is still not fully understood. Aims of the study: The objective of the present study was to determine whether the GABAA/benzodiazepine complex or serotonin neurotransmission mediates the anxiolytic-like effect of lavender essential oil. Materials and methods: Male Swiss mice were subjected to the marble-burying test after being exposed to the aroma of lavender essential oil (1–5%), amyl acetate (5%; used as a behaviorally neutral odor), or distilled water for 15min via inhalation. Additionally, the effect of 5% lavender essential oil was also evaluated in mice subjected to the elevated plus maze. GABAA/benzodiazepine mediation was evaluated by pretreating the mice with the GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin before the marble burying test and [3H]flunitrazepam binding to the benzodiazepine site on the GABAA receptor. Serotonergic mediation was studied by pretreating the mice with O-methyl-[3H]-N-(2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclohexanecarboxamide trihydrochloride (WAY100635), a serotonin 5-HT1A receptor antagonist before the marble burying test. We also evaluated changes in the pharmacologically induced serotonin syndrome and the effects of combined administration of subeffective doses of lavender essential oil and the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT). Results: Lavender essential oil (1–5%) decreased the number of marbles buried compared with the control and amyl acetate groups. In the elevated plus maze, 5% lavender essential oil inhalation increased the percentage of time spent on and number of entries into the open arms compared with controls. No effect was seen in the number of closed arm entries or number of beam interruptions in the automated activity chamber. Pretreatment with the GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin (0.5mg/kg) did not modify the behavioral effect of 5% lavender essential oil in the marble-burying test. Lavender essential oil also did not alter [3H]flunitrazepam binding to the benzodiazepine site on the GABAA receptor. Pretreatment with the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 (3mg/kg) blocked the anxiolytic-like effect of lavender essential oil and the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT (3mg/kg). A combination of ineffective doses of 8-OH-DPAT (0.5mg/kg) and lavender essential oil (0.1%) reduced the number of marbles buried. Finally, 5% lavender essential oil attenuated the serotonin syndrome induced by 40mg/kg fluoxetine plus 80mg/kg 5-hydroxytryptophan. Conclusions: These results indicate an important role for the serotonergic system in the anxiolytic-like effect of lavender essential oil. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Geissospermum vellosii is a tree widely found throughout the Amazonic forest and frequently used by the native population for painful disorders. Aim of the study: The present study examined the antinociceptive effects of Geissospermum vellosii in behavioral models of nociception. Materials, methods and results: Oral administration of crude extract of Geissospermum vellosii or its dichloromethane fraction (1–100mg/kg) inhibited formalin-induced inflammatory nociception and acetic acid-induced visceral nociception. The antinociceptive effect of Geissospermum vellosii was unrelated with motor dysfunctions. Furthermore, the alkaloid 12-metoxy-1-methyl-aspidospermidine (0.001–1mg/kg), isolated from the dichloromethane fraction, also produced antinociception. The antinociception caused by the dichloromethane fraction was significantly attenuated by pre-treatment of mice with p-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester (PCPA, an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis, 100mg/kg once a day for 4 consecutive days) and WAY-100635 (a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist, 0.3mg/kg). In contrast, dichloromethane fraction antinociception was not affected by pre-treatment of animals with ketanserin (a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, 0.3mg/kg) or ondansetron (a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, 0.5mg/kg). Conclusions: Together, these results indicate that Geissospermum vellosii produces antinociception through an interaction with 5-HT1A receptors. Furthermore, the alkaloid 12-metoxy-1-methyl-aspidospermidine contributes to the antinociceptive properties reported for Geissospermum vellosii. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]