Effects of the Hyptis martiusii Benth. leaf essential oil and 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) on the central nervous system of mice

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2019-11, Vol.133, p.110802-110802, Article 110802
• Main Authors: Sobreira Dantas Nóbrega de Figuêiredo, Francisco Rodolpho, Monteiro, Álefe Brito, Alencar de Menezes, Irwin Rose, Sales, Valterlúcio dos Santos, Petícia do Nascimento, Emmily, Kelly de Souza Rodrigues, Cristina, Bitu Primo, Ana Jaqueline, Paulo da Cruz, Luzia, Amaro, Érika do Nascimento, de Araújo Delmondes, Gyllyandeson, Leite de Oliveira Sobreira Nóbrega, Juliana Ponciano, Pereira Lopes, Maria Janice, Martins da Costa, José Galberto, Bezerra Felipe, Cícero Francisco, Kerntopf, Marta Regina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 1,8-cineole; Animals; Antipsychotic-like effect; Central Nervous System - drug effects; Essential oil; Eucalyptol - pharmacology; Eucalyptol - toxicity; Female; Hyperkinesis - drug therapy; Hypnotic-sedative effect; Hyptis - chemistry; Hyptis martiusii; Ketamine; Maze Learning - drug effects; Mice; Motor Activity - drug effects; Oils, Volatile - pharmacology; Oils, Volatile - toxicity; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Sleep - drug effects
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.110802

The aim of this study was to characterize the central effects of the Hyptis martiusii leaf essential oil (OEHM) and 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) using behavioral animal models. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to characterize the chemical compounds present in the OEHM. For the behavioral tests, female Swiss mice treated with the OEHM (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) and 1,8-cineole (50 mg/kg, i.p.) were used and subjected to the following tests: open field, elevated cross maze, rotarod, sodium pentobarbital- or ethyl ether-induced sleep time, pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions, haloperidol-induced catalepsy, and ketamine-induced hyperkinesia. GC/MS analysis identified 20 constituents with the majority of them being monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, with eucalyptol (1,8-cineol), the major sample compound (25.93%), standing out. The results showed the OEHM (25, 50 100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) and its major compound (50 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced animal motility in the open field test, increased pentobarbital- and ethyl ether-induced sleep time, as well as death latency in the pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsion model. However, the tested compounds were devoid of anxiolytic-like and myorelaxant activity. In addition, the OEHM (100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) and 1,8-cineole (50 mg/kg, i.p.) potentiated haloperidol-induced catalepsy and reduced ketamine-induced hyperkinesia. Taken together, the results suggest the OEHM has important hypnotic-sedative and antipsychotic-like effects, which appear to be due to the monoterpene 1,8-cineole, the major compound identified in the essential oil. •Hyptis martiusii essential oil presented no signs of toxicity/mortality.•The essential oil presented important effects on the CNS.•Such effects seems to depend upon the presence of 1,8-cineole in the essential oil.