Planta Medica, Table of Contents Planta Med 2012; 78(5): 455-458DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1298174 Biological and Pharmacological Activity Letters © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York GABAA Receptor Modulators from the Chinese Herbal Drug Junci Medulla – The Pith of Juncus effusus Judith Singhuber1 , Igor Baburin2 , Sophia Khom2 , Martin Zehl1 , Ernst Urban3 , Steffen Hering2 , Brigitte Kopp1 1Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 2Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria 3Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria Recommend Article Abstract Buy Article Abstract The gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) type A (GABAA) receptor represents a crucial target for clinical agents in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia. Using the two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique on recombinant α 1 β 2 γ 2S GABAA receptors, effusol (1) and dehydroeffusol (2) were isolated in a bioactivity-guided approach from the pith of Juncus effusus L. Both compounds concentration-dependently enhanced GABA induced chloride currents (IGABA) by a maximum 188 ± 20 (1) and 239 ± 18 % (2), independent of the benzodiazepine (BZ) binding site. This activity on the GABAA receptor may explain the traditional use of J. effusus as a sedative and anxiolytic agent in Chinese medicine. Key words Juncus effusus L. (Juncaceae) - GABA(A) receptor - voltage clamp - positive allosteric modulation - dehydroeffusol - effusol Full Text References References 1 Somers J M, Goldner E M, Waraich P, Hsu L. Prevalence and incidence studies of anxiety disorders: a systematic review of the literature. Can J Psychiatry. 2006; 51 100-113 2 Roth T. Sleep and society. Sleep Med. 2009; 10 S1-S2 3 Stevens J C, Pollack M H. Benzodiazepines in clinical practice: consideration of their long-term use and alternative agents. J Clin Psychiatry. 2005; 66 21-27 4 Lader M, Tylee A, Donoghue J. Withdrawing benzodiazepines in primary care. CNS Drugs. 2009; 23 19-34 5 Sullivan S S. Insomnia pharmacology. Med Clin North Am. 2010; 94 563-580 6 Roy-Byrne P P, Bystritsky A, Russo J, Craske M G, Sherbourne C D, Stein M B. Use of herbal medicine in primary care patients with mood and anxiety disorders. Psychosomatics. 2005; 46 117-122 7 Kinrys G, Coleman E, Rothstein E. Natural remedies for anxiety disorders: potential use and clinical applications. Depress Anxiety. 2009; 26 259-265 8 Salter S, Brownie S. Treating primary insomnia – the efficacy of valerian and hops. Aust Fam Physician. 2010; 39 433-437 9 Bensky D, Clavey S, Stoeger E. Chinese herbal medicine: Materia Medica. 3rd edition. Seattle: Eastland Press; 2006: 1311 10 Della Greca M, Fiorentino A, Monaco P, Previtera L. Cycloartane triterpenes from Juncus effusus. Phytochemistry. 1994; 35 1017-1022 11 Kovacs A, Vasas A, Hohmann J. Natural phenanthrenes and their biological activity. Phytochemistry. 2008; 69 1084-1110 12 Liao Y J, Zhai H F, Zhang B, Duan T X, Huang J M. Anxiolytic and sedative effects of dehydroeffusol from Juncus effusus in mice. Planta Med. 2011; 77 416-420 13 Olsen R W, Sieghart W. GABA(A) receptors: subtypes provide diversity of function and pharmacology. Neuropharmacology. 2009; 56 141-148 14 Johnston G A, Hanrahan J R, Chebib M, Duke R K, Mewett K N. Modulation of ionotropic GABA receptors by natural products of plant origin. Adv Pharmacol. 2006; 54 285-316 15 Bhattacharyya J. Structure of effusol: A new phenolic constituent from Juncus effusus. Experientia. 1980; 36 27-28 16 Shima K, Toyota M, Asakawa Y. Phenanthrene derivatives from the medullae of Juncus effusus. Phytochemistry. 1991; 30 3149-3151 17 Khom S, Baburin I, Timin E N, Hohaus A, Sieghart W, Hering S. Pharmacological properties of GABA(A) receptors containing gamma1 subunits. Mol Pharmacol. 2006; 69 640-649 18 Baburin I, Beyl S, Hering S. Automated fast perfusion of Xenopus oocytes for drug screening. Pflugers Arch. 2006; 453 117-123 Univ. Prof. Mag. Dr. Brigitte Kopp Department of PharmacognosyUniversity of Vienna Althanstraße 14 1090 Vienna Austria Phone: +43 14 27 75 52 55 Fax: +43 14 27 75 52 56 Email: brigitte.kopp@univie.ac.at Supplementary Material Supplementary Material Supporting Information