ABSTRACT
Nepeta cataria (catnip) is a plant used in pet toys and to treat human diseases. Catnip has also been used in the treatment of some depressive disorders. In this paper, we studied the antidepressant, anxiogenic, and motor activity effects of acute and repeated feeding of chow enriched with 10 percent N. cataria leaves and the acute and repeated administration of apolar and polar extracts of N. cataria leaves in male mice. The results showed that repeated feeding and acute and repeated administration with the apolar extract reduced immobility in the behavioral despair test but did not alter elevated plus maze and open-field parameters. Acute feeding and the acute and repeated administration of the polar extracts of N. cataria leaves did not alter the behavior of mice. These data suggest that N. cataria has antidepressant properties. Moreover, this antidepressant activity was present in the apolar extract
Subject(s)
Animals , Behavior, Animal , Motor Activity , Antidepressive AgentsABSTRACT
Objective - Nepeta cataria (catnip) is a plant used to treat human diseases and is also found in pet toys. This study was performed to analyze the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of N. cataria essential oil (NCEO) in female mice. Methods - Phytochemical analyses of NCEO were performed. In addition, female mice treated with the oil were observed in an open for its general activity and to investigate the dose and time responses. The anti-nociceptive effects were evaluated by tail immersion and acetic acid writhing reflex tests.The anti-inflammatory oil properties were investigated by the carrageenan-induced edema test. Results - The results showed that 0.0005 and 0.001 mL/kg i.p. doses of NCEO increased the general activity of female mice, and the 0.0005 mL/kg dose reduced their immobility. Moreover, NCEO (0.0005 mL/kg) has anti-nociceptive properties, as the treated animals exhibited an increased latency of tail withdrawal and reduced acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions. Furthermore, NCEO (0.0005 mL/kg) presented peripheric anti-inflammatory properties by reducing the induced edema after carrageenan injection. Conclusions - These effects may be due to the nepetalactone trans-trans and trans-cis nepetalactone isomers, which were detected as the predominant active components in the phytochemical analysis. It was suggested that the main effect of NCEO occurs on the central nervous system mechanism of pain.
Objetivo - A Nepeta cataria (catnip) é uma planta utilizada para tratar doenças humanas e também é encontrada em brinquedos de animais de estimação. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar os efeitos antinociceptivos e anti-inflamatório do óleo essencial de N. cataria (NCEO) em camundongos fêmeas. Métodos - A análise fitoquímica do NCEO foi realizada. Além disso, os animais que foram tratados como óleo e foram observados em um campo aberto para mensurar a sua atividade em geral e investigar a dose e tempo de respostas. Os efeitos antinociceptivos foram avaliados pelos testes de imersão da cauda e reflexo de contorções abdominais causadas pelo ácido acético. As propriedades anti-inflamatórias do óleo foram investigadas pelo teste de edema induzido por carragenina. Resultados - Os resultados mostraram que 0,0005 e 0,001mL/ kg doses ip. de NCEO aumentou a atividade geral de camundongos fêmeas, e dose de 0,0005 mL/kg reduziu sua imobilidade. Além disso, NCEO (0,0005 mL/kg), tem propriedades antinociceptiva, como os animais tratados apresentaram uma maior latência de retirada de cauda e reduziu as contorções abdominais induzidas pelo ácido acético. Além disso, NCEO (0,0005mL/kg) apresentou efeito periférico e propriedades anti-inflamatórias, reduzindo o edema induzido após a injeção de carragenina. Conclusões - Estes efeitos podem ser devido aos isômeros nepetalactone trans-trans e nepetalactone trans-cis, que foram detectados como os componentes ativos predominante na análise fitoquímica. Foi sugerido que o principal efeito da NCEO ocorre no mecanismo do sistema nervoso central da dor.