Indagine etnofarmacologica su Casimiroa edulis Llave et Lex

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effects produced by the extracts of leaves, seeds and bark from Casimiroa edulis cultivated in Sardinia on the central nervous system, different behavioral tests were performed: spontaneous motor activity, anxyolitic, antidepressant, hypnotic-sedative, anticataleptic, anticonvulsant, antinociceptive and antinflammatory activities. The results revealed that the extract of seeds reduced spontaneous motor activity and rearing; in the forced swimming test (FST) it caused a potent sedative effect; in the test of carrageenan-induced paw edema it showed an antinflammatory activity; furthermore it reduced writhing acetic acid-induced (antinociceptive activity) and convulsion lithium-pilocarpine induced, while it significantly prolonged pentobarbital-induced hypnosis. The extract of leaves produced a like-anxyolitic action in the elevated plus maze test; in the FST it was as effective as fluoxetine in inducing shortening of immobility (like-antidepressant action); it reduced catalepsy haloperidol and PTZ-induced. The extract of bark significantly reduced immobility time in the FST and it increased pentobarbital-induced hypnosis.