Anxiolytic effects of kava extract and kavalactones in the chick social separation-stress paradigm.
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
; 155(1): 86-90, 2001 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11374340
ABSTRACT
RATIONALE Piper methysticum extract (kava kava) possesses numerous therapeutic properties, but it is unknown which of its principle constituents (kavalactones) subserve such effects. OBJECTIVES:
This experiment sought to characterize the putative anxiolytic properties of P. methysticum extract and its six principle kavalactones in the chick social separation-stress paradigm.METHODS:
Eight-day-old chicks received intraperitoneal injections of either vehicle, chlordiazepoxide (5.0 mg/ml per kg), P. methysticum extract (containing 30% kavalactones), kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin, or desmethoxyyangonin (30 mg/ml per kg for kava compounds) 30 min prior to being tested in the presence of two conspecifics or in isolation for a 3-min observation period. Latency to adopt a ventral recumbent posture to index sedation, number of vocalizations to index separation distress, and a composite pain score (in response to 50 microliters 0.10% formalin injection into the plantar surface of the foot) to index stress-induced analgesia served as dependent measures.RESULTS:
Both chlordiazepoxide and P. methysticum extract attenuated separation-induced distress vocalizations and stress-induced analgesia. Dihydrokavain attenuated separation-induced distress vocalizations.CONCLUSIONS:
These findings suggest that the anxiolytic effects of P. methysticum extract may be mediated, in part, by dihydrokavain.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Plantas Medicinales
/
Pironas
/
Vocalización Animal
/
Conducta Animal
/
Kava
/
Lactonas
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Psychopharmacology (Berl)
Año:
2001
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos