ABSTRACT
Three alkaloid fractions were obtained from seeds of Erythrina americana: free alkaloids in hexane, free alkaloids in methanol and liberated alkaloids. The pharmacological evaluation of these fractions on rats showed that, administered in a dose of 3 mg/kg, the three fractions diminished the aggressive behavior. This is comparable when diazepam is used as a control. An interaction between the cholinergic and GABAergic system could be suggested.
Subject(s)
Aggression/drug effects , Alkaloids/pharmacology , Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Erythrina/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal , Animals , Diazepam/pharmacology , Lethal Dose 50 , Male , Random Allocation , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Solubility , Time FactorsABSTRACT
New avenues of cytoskeleton research in Dictyostelium discoideum have opened up with the cloning of the alpha- and beta-tubulin genes and the characterization of kinesins and cytoplasmic dynein. Much research, however, continues to focus on the actin cytoskeleton and its dynamics during chemotaxis, morphogenesis, and other motile processes. New actin-associated proteins are being identified and characterized by biochemical means and through isolation of mutants lacking individual components. This work is shedding light on the roles of specific actin assemblies in various biological processes.
