Shahnouri M, Abouhosseini Tabari M, Araghi A
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Babol Branch, Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran.
Iran J Vet Res. 2016 Fall;17(4):259-264.
Research on new compounds of therapeutic value for behavioral disorders has progressed recently. Several studies have reported neuropharmacological activities of plant derived terpenes. Farnesol is a sesquiterpene whose most popular source is fruits but the anxiolytic activity for farnesol is still unknown. The present study was conducted on 32 male Swiss Albino mice (8 in each group) to evaluate the neuropharmacological properties of farnesol and its effects on plasma cortisol levels. Farnesol was administered intraperitoneally at single doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, while diazepam 2 mg/kg was used as standard anxiolytic. Thirty minutes after injections, open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM), a forced swimming test (FST), and a hot plate test (HPT) were performed for evaluation of anxiety-like behavior, depression and nociception. In OFT, farnesol at the dose of 100 mg/kg led to significant decrease in locomotor activity (P<0.01). In EPM, only farnesol 100 mg/kg led to significant increase in the number of entries to the open arms and the time spent in open arms (P<0.01). Increase in immobility time in FST was seen in farnesol 50 and 100 mg/kg (P<0.001). Farnesol 100 mg/kg exerts significant prolongation in the latency of responses to noxious heat stimuli in HPT. Like diazepam, farnesol decreased plasma levels of cortisol. Results revealed that farnesol had anxiolytic, anti-nociceptive and depressant effects in murine models. The present study provides pharmacological evidence supporting the use of farnesol as a sedative for anxiety disorders.
近期，针对具有行为障碍治疗价值的新化合物的研究取得了进展。多项研究报告了植物源萜类化合物的神经药理学活性。法尼醇是一种倍半萜烯，其最常见的来源是水果，但法尼醇的抗焦虑活性仍不明确。本研究以32只雄性瑞士白化小鼠（每组8只）为对象，评估法尼醇的神经药理学特性及其对血浆皮质醇水平的影响。法尼醇以50和100毫克/千克的单剂量腹腔注射给药，同时将2毫克/千克的地西泮用作标准抗焦虑药。注射后30分钟，进行旷场试验（OFT）、高架十字迷宫试验（EPM）、强迫游泳试验（FST）和热板试验（HPT），以评估焦虑样行为、抑郁和痛觉感受。在旷场试验中，100毫克/千克剂量的法尼醇导致运动活动显著减少（P<0.01）。在高架十字迷宫试验中，只有100毫克/千克的法尼醇导致进入开放臂的次数和在开放臂中停留的时间显著增加（P<0.01）。在强迫游泳试验中，50和100毫克/千克的法尼醇组小鼠的不动时间增加（P<0.001）。100毫克/千克的法尼醇显著延长了热板试验中对有害热刺激的反应潜伏期。与地西泮一样，法尼醇降低了血浆皮质醇水平。结果表明，法尼醇在小鼠模型中具有抗焦虑、抗伤害感受和抑制作用。本研究提供了药理学证据，支持将法尼醇用作焦虑症的镇静剂。
