Year: 1998
Type: article
Abstract: Roots of Ptychopetalum olacoides Bentham (Olacaceae), known as Marapuama, are prepared in alcoholic infusion for treating “nervous weakness” by Amazonian Caboclos. “Nervous weakness” can be described as a syndrome having several symptoms, among which the following are emphasized: lassitude, depression, sexual impotence and tremors. Based on ethnopharmacological data, we have considered the hypothesis that PO may have psychopharmacological effects, by interacting with different neurotransmitter systems: (i) the dopaminergic system, considering its use as an appetite modulator and to counteract tremors, as well as for its alleged sexual arousing properties; (ii) the noradrenergic system, again for its use against tremors and/or depression; and/or (iii) the serotonergic system, also related to depression and sexual arousal. This paper reports that P. olacoides hydroalcoholic extract potentiated yohimbine-induced lethality, rever sed reserpine-induced ptosis and prevented apomorphine-induced stereotypy. The data indicates that P. olacoides has central nervous system effects and supports the hypothesis of its interaction with dopaminergic and/or noradrenergic systems.
Source: Pharmaceutical Biology
Language: Croatian
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2145493715