Effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Passiflora coerulea as an anxiolytic and antidepressant in subchronic treatment of mice

Abstract

The genus Passiflora is widely used in medicinal folklore for the treatment mainly of anxiety. However, there are more studies on Passiflora incarnata. On the other hand, Passiflora coerulea (P. coerulea) is present in our country and is consumed as a tea by the population; the proportion of its active substance is different. Previous studies showed that P. coerulea acts as a partial agonist on the GABAA benzodiazepine receptor through called chrysin (flavonoid) in the acute treatment of rats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of P. coerulea on anxiety and the expression of depressive behavior in Swiss albino mice with depression.

Swiss albino mice (N: NIH) with bilateral olfactory bulbectomy (animal depression model) were used in comparison to mice without extraction of olfactory bulbs (Sham, controls), N = 5-3. The antidepressant effect was assessed after 5 days of oral administration (gavage) of passionflower (10mg / kg) in the open field test (TCA) and anxiety behavior in the elevated labyrinth in cross (plus maze). The data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA followed by an LSD test.

The results show that sub-chronic treatment with P. coerulea in bulbectomized animals (BO) decreased locomotor activity in relation to BO - saline animals (p≤0.05). No significant differences were observed in Sham animals treated with P. coerulea with respect to Sham - saline (p≤0.05). In addition, BO-saline animals showed a significant decrease in % of entries (F (9.59) = 9.31; p≤ 0.05) and % of time in open arms (F (9.59) = 6,99; p≤0.05), which was reversed by the administration of P. coerulea, showing an anxiolytic effect.

In conclusion, this study provides new evidence about the effects of P. coerulea on the processes of anxiety and depression in an animal model of depression, where P. coerulea managed to reverse the anxiety and depressive behavior characteristic of BO animals.