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Planta Med 2013; 79(09): 723-730
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1328553
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Anxiolytic Action of Pterostilbene: Involvement of Hippocampal ERK Phosphorylation

Md. Al Rahim  
1   University of Mississippi, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University, MS, USA
3   Current affiliation: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
,
Agnes M. Rimando  
2   U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, University, MS, USA
,
Kalpten Silistreli
1   University of Mississippi, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University, MS, USA
4   Current address: Turkey Ministry of Health, T.C Sağlık Bakanlığı Dış İlişkiler Dairesi Başkanlığı D Blok Sıhhiye, Ankara, Turkey
,
Abir T. El-Alfy
1   University of Mississippi, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University, MS, USA
5   Current address: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chicago State University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 28 September 2012
revised 05 April 2013

accepted 09 April 2013

Publication Date:
15 May 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Pterostilbene, a natural analog of resveratrol, has diverse health-beneficial properties. However, the neurological activities of this compound are largely unexplored. Here, we report that pterostilbene shows anxiolytic-like actions by down-regulating phosphorylated levels of extracellular regulated kinases in the hippocampus of mice. Adult male mice administered pterostilbene (1–10 mg/kg, p. o.) were subjected to the elevated plus maze test. Pterostilbene manifested anxiolytic activity at 1 and 2 mg/kg doses, demonstrated by increases in % permanence time and number of open arm entries. The locomotor activity of the animals was unaffected at all doses. Western blot analysis revealed a decrease in both extracellular regulated kinase1 and extracellular regulated kinase 2 phosphorylation in hippocampal homogenates from mice treated with 1 and 2 mg/kg pterostilbene. Moreover, pterostilbene was detected in the plasma and brains of mice following single oral administration. Anxiolytic activity was not observed at the higher doses (5 and 10 mg/kg). However, no impairment of motor function was observed either, suggesting a favorable safety index for the compound. These results suggest that pterostilbene has the potential for therapeutic drug development for anxiety disorders.

Key words

pterostilbene - anxiolytic activity - elevated plus maze - ERK phosphorylation - hippocampus

These authors contributed equally to this work.


 

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