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Comparative anticonvulsant activities of the essential oils (EOs) from Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt and Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. in mice

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Abstract

The fresh leaves of Cymbopogon citratus are a good source of an essential oil (EO) rich in citral, and its tea is largely used in the Brazilian folk medicine as a sedative. A similar source of EO is Cymbopogon winterianus, rich in citronellal. The literature presents more studies on the EO of C. citratus and their isolated bioactive components, but only a few are found on the EO of C. winterianus. The objective of the present study was then to study, in a comparative way, the effects of both EOs on three models of convulsions (pentylenetetrazol, pilocarpine, and strychnine) and on the barbiturate-induced sleeping time on male Swiss mice. The animals (20–30 g) were acutely treated with 50, 100, and 200 mg kg−1, intraperitoneally, of each EO, and 30 min later, the test was initiated. The observed parameters were: latency to the first convulsion and latency to death in seconds. Furthermore, the in vitro effects of the EOs were also studied on myeloperoxidase (MPO; a biomarker for inflammation) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; an index of cytotoxicity) releases from human neutrophils. The EOs radical-scavenging activities were also evaluated by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The results showed that both EOs were more active on the pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsion model, and C. citratus was even more efficient in increasing latency to the first convulsion and latency to death. Both parameters were potentiated in the presence of a lower dose of diazepam (reference drug) when associated to a lower dose of each EO (25 mg kg−1). Besides, their anticonvulsant effects were blocked by flumazenil, a known benzodiazepine antagonist. This effect was somewhat lower on the pilocarpine-induced convulsion, and better effects were seen only with the EOs’ higher doses (200 mg kg−1). A similar result was observed on the strychnine-induced convulsion model. Both EOs potentiated the barbiturate-induced sleeping time. However, C. citratus was more efficient. Interestingly, both EOs completely blocked the MPO release from human neutrophils and showed no cytotoxic effect on the LDH release from human neutrophils. On the other hand, only a very low or no effect on the DPPH assay was observed with C. winterianus and C. citratus, respectively, indicating that the radical scavenging activity did not play a role on the EOs’ effects. We conclude that the mechanism of action of the anticonvulsant effect of the EOs studied is, at least in part, dependent upon the GABAergic neurotransmission. In addition, their effects on inflammatory biomarkers can also contribute to their central nervous system activity.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Organic Chemistry Department of the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), Brazil, for the GC–MS analysis of the essentials oils and to Professor M.O.L. Viana for the orthographic revision of the manuscript. This work was supported by fellowships from the Brazilian Coordination for Qualifying University Professors—CAPES.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Rua Cel. Nunes de Melo, 1127, Fortaleza, 60430-270, Ceará, Brazil

    Monalisa Ribeiro Silva, Rafael Matos Ximenes, Amanda A. de Lopes & Glauce Socorro de Barros Viana

  2. Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Regional University of Cariri (URCA), Crato, Ceará, Brazil

    José Galberto Martins da Costa

  3. Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

    L. Kalyne A. M. Leal

  4. Faculty of Medicine of Juazeiro do Norte (FMJ), Av. Tenente Raimundo Rocha s/n, Juazeiro do Norte, 63040-000, Ceará, Brazil

    Glauce Socorro de Barros Viana

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  1. Monalisa Ribeiro Silva
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Correspondence to Glauce Socorro de Barros Viana.

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Silva, M.R., Ximenes, R.M., da Costa, J.G.M. et al. Comparative anticonvulsant activities of the essential oils (EOs) from Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt and Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf. in mice. Naunyn-Schmied Arch Pharmacol 381, 415–426 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-010-0494-9

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