ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: We investigated the antianxiety and sedative effects of the essential oil of Ducrosia anethifolia. Boiss. (Apiaceae). METHODS: We used elevated plus maze, spontaneous motor activity and ketamine-induced sleep tests in mice. In addition, the essential oil was analyzed by GC/MS. Twenty compounds were identified, and n-decanal (70.1 percent) and alpha-pinene (12.4 percent) constituted the major components. RESULTS: In elevated plus maze, Ducrosia anethifolia essential oil at doses of 25-200 mg/kg increased the percentage of open arm time and entries. Unlike diazepam, ducrosia anethifolia essential oil could not suppress spontaneous motor activity and did not alter ketamine-induced sleep parameters. These results are indicative of antianxiety effect of Ducrosia anethifolia essential oil without sedative effect.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Mice , Anti-Anxiety Agents/adverse effects , Hypnotics and Sedatives/adverse effects , Maze Learning/drug effects , Motor Activity/drug effects , Plant Oils/adverse effects , Plants, Medicinal/adverse effects , Sleep/drug effects , Analysis of Variance , Models, Animal , Plant Oils/administration & dosage , Plant Oils/chemistry , Plants, Medicinal/chemistryABSTRACT
Summary Jhe chromosomic polymorphism of Anopheles darlingi, whose sample was obtained in Highway BR-174 (Manaus/Boa Vista), was here analyzed. Two new independent inversions were described, and the number of rearrangements was raised to twelve. Three asynapsed regions were also described, being one in chromosome X and two in chromosome 2. There was a high occurence of inversions at the heterozygote state and the medium number per individual was high (4,13 ± 0,13). The higher and meaningful frequencies of heterozygote indicated their larger adaptability to the enviromental heterogeneity. The tests for the association of inversions showed the occurrence of an intrachromosomic association (arms 3R and 3D and four interchromosomic ones (chromosomes X-3 and 2-3). The data of the Anopheles darlingi chromosomic polymorphism support the hypothesis that the central populations of a geographic area are more polymorphic than the marginal populations. The A. darlingi populations of Amazônia are highly polymorphic as compared to the southern ones, where certain arrangements with reduce polymorphism were determined.
Resumo Foi analisado o polimorfismo cromossômico de Anopheles darlingi, cuja amostra foi obtida na Rodovia BR-174 (Manaus/Boa Vista). Foram descritas duas novas inversões independentes, estendendo-se para doze o número de rearranjos de A. darlingi. Três regiões de despareamento também foram descritas, sendo uma no cromossomo X e duas no cromossomo 2. Ocorreu uma alta incidência de inversões no estado heterozigoto e o número médio por indivíduo foi elevado (4,13 ± 0.13). As freqüências elevadas e significativas de heterozigotos para a maioria das inversões foram interpretadas como indicativas de uma adaptabilidade maior dos mesmos em relação à heterogeneidade ambiental. Os testes para associação de inversões evidenciaram a ocorrência de uma associação intracromossômica (braços 3R e 3L) e quatro intercromossômicas (cromossomos X - 3 e 2 - 3). Os dados de polimorfismo cromossômico de Anopheles darlingi corroboram a hipótese de que populações centrais da área de distribuição geográfica de uma espécie são mais polimórficas que as populações marginais. As populações de A. darlingi da Amazônia são altamente polimórficas quando comparadas com as populações do sul nas quais foram fixados determinados arranjos com reduzido polimorfismo.