Anxiogenic properties of Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth. (Marapuama)

Abstract

Alcohol infusions of roots of Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth. (PO), known as Marapuama or Muirapuama, are used in the Brazilian Amazon as a 'nerve tonic'. Over the years PO has been found increasingly in phytoformulations and regarded as a stimulant, claimed to enhance physical and mental performances. This study determined that a P. olacoides ethanol extract (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) decreased exploratory behaviour in the hole-board test, without interfering with locomotion or motor coordination (rota-rod test). The data are comparable to that obtained with pentylenetetrazol (40 mg/kg), suggesting an anxiogenic effect of P. olacoides.

Promnesic effects of Ptychopetalum olacoides in aversive and non-aversive learning paradigms

“…In fact, RI is considered a more reliable measure of discrimination because it corrects for the total exploratory activity (Sik et al, 2003). The differences in training performance found in this study are somewhat comparable to the ones seen with pre-training POEE administration in step down (da Silva et al, 2004); in both cases a possible explanation is the moderate anxiogenic activity of this dose of POEE identified through the hole-board model (da Silva et al, 2002). Two factors can be contributing to the observed decrease in total exploration time with pre-test administration: an improved memory (decreasing familiar object exploration), and anxiety (delaying initial exploration of the new object due to its novelty).…”

“…Thus, the promnesic effect of POEE found in this study is coherent with its inhibitory properties for acetylcholinesterase (Siqueira et al, 2003), but also with the behavior profile so far established for this extract da Silva et al, 2002) suggests interactions with various neurotransmitters (including noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine).…”

In search of the perfect aphrodisiac: Parallel use of bitter tonics in West Africa and the Caribbean

“…Several of the spices added to multispecies drink to enhance their taste (e.g., nutmeg, Aframomum melegueta), appear to possess androgenic properties as well (Melnyk and Marcone, 2011). Apart from the anxiogenic properties of Ptychopetalum olacoides (Da Silva et al, 2002), evidence on the therapeutic efficacy of the many Caribbean aphrodisiacs on human erectile dysfunction has yet to be published (Awang, 2011;Melnyk and Marcone, 2011).…”

Validated high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the standardisation of Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth., Olacaceae, commercial extracts

“…The traditional uses of P. olacoides have been extensively exploited by herbal industries in several American and European countries, and the native herb or its extracts are constituents of various phytomedicines supplied in the form of pills, tinctures, tablets, multivitamin supplements or compound extracts (Silva et al, 2002;Siqueira et al, 2003Siqueira et al, , 2007. The plant is also a component of the medication Catuama®, which is widely used in several parts of Brazil as a general tonic and to alleviate physical and mental fatigue (Antunes et al, 2001).…”