Erythrinian alkaloids from E. mulungu Mart. ex Benth. (Leguminosae-Papilionaceae): New assessments on neuroethology, neurochemistry, histology, immunohistochemistry and electroencephalography approaches using rats submitted to pilocarpine model

• Grant number: 13/13738-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Biochemical and Molecular Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Renê de Oliveira Beleboni
• Grantee: Erica Aparecida Gelfuso Rossete
• Host Institution: Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP). Campus Ribeirão Preto. Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is responsible for 40% of diagnosed cases of epilepsy. TLE is the most refractory type of epilepsy when considered the different types of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used in the therapeutics. In addition, AEDs are currently associated to different side effects, causing the total or partial patient inability to working activity or to evolve in several types of common social activities. The plant E. mulungu Mart. ex Benth. (Leguminosae-Papilionaceae) has been used in the folk medicine and also in industrial phytoterapical preparations due to its sedative, anticonvulsant, hypnotic and anxiolytic properties. Indeed, recent reports have pointed to marked anticonvulsant effects of E. mulungu in different acute animal models of epilepsy. Those anticonvulsant effects have been attributed to the presence of (+)-erythravine, (+)-11±-hidroxierythravine and erysothrine alkaloids isolated from flowers of plant. However, no experimental approach has been used to evaluate the anticonvulsant effects of those alkaloids in a chronic animal model of epilepsy, which is important to a better understanding of anticonvulsivant and neuroprotective properties of those compounds as well as to a better elucidation of mechanisms evolved on epileptogenesis of TLE and in its maintenance and progression. The aims of the present work are to provide new efforts to continue our previous FAPESP research project (2012/06572-3), in what the major goal is to investigate the anticonvulsant profile performance of eithrynians alkaloids using the pilocarpine model in rats. In this previous project, it will be evaluated the anticonvulsant effects of erithrynian alkaloids in general or in comparison to the conventional AEDs using neuroethological, histological and imunohistochemical parameters of analysis. Also, differential expression of GABAA and NMDA receptors will be evaluated among hippocampus from control and experimental animals by use of Real time PCR 15 days after induction of status epilepticus (SE) by pilocarpine. The preliminary results from this previous project are encouraging, particularly those evolving the neuroethological and histological (Violet-Cresyl) analyses. The aims of the present project are to continue the histological (Neo-Timm method) and immunohistochemical analysis (GFAP and Neu-N markers) as proposed on the previous project, including also the evaluation of anticonvulsant performance of alkaloids by use of Video- Electroencephalography registration during the seizures induced by pilocarpine. The action of alkaloids on cognitive performance of rats will also be tested by use of Morris test. Finally, this project will be important to reinforce once more the biotechnological potential of erithrynian alkaloids

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GELFUSO, ERICA APARECIDA; REIS, SUELEN LORENZATO; SOARES PEREIRA, ANA MARIA; ROSA AGUIAR, DAIANE SANTOS; BELEBONI, RENE OLIVEIRA. Neuroprotective effects and improvement of learning and memory elicited by erythravine and 11 alpha-hydroxy-erythravine against the pilocarpine model of epilepsy. Life Sciences, v. 240, JAN 1 2020. (13/13738-8)

REIS, SUELEN L.; MANTELLO, ANIELI G.; MACEDO, JEFERSON M.; GELFUSO, ERICA A.; DA SILVA, CASSIO P.; FACHIN, ANA L.; CARDOSO, ALEXANDRE M.; BELEBONI, RENE O.. Typical Monoterpenes as Insecticides and Repellents against Stored Grain Pests. Molecules, v. 21, n. 3, MAR 2016. (13/13738-8)