Involvement of 5-HT1A Receptors in the Anxiolytic-Like Effects of Quercitrin and Evidence of the Involvement of the Monoaminergic System

Abstract EN

Quercitrin is a well-known flavonoid that is contained in Flos Albiziae, which has been used for the treatment of anxiety.

The present study investigated the anxiolytic-like effects of quercitrin in experimental models of anxiety.

Compared with the control group, repeated treatment with quercitrin (5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for seven days significantly increased the percentage of entries into and time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze.

In the light/dark box test, quercitrin exerted an anxiolytic-like effect at 5 and 10 mg/kg.

In the marble-burying test, quercitrin (5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) also exerted an anxiolytic-like effect.

Furthermore, quercitrin did not affect spontaneous locomotor activity.

The anxiolytic-like effects of quercitrin in the elevated plus maze and light/dark box test were blocked by the serotonin-1A (5-hydroxytryptamine-1A (5-H T 1A )) receptor antagonist WAY-100635 (3.0 mg/kg, i.p.) but not by the γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GAB A A ) receptor antagonist flumazenil (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.).

The levels of brain monoamines (5-HT and dopamine) and their metabolites (5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and homovanillic acid) were decreased after quercitrin treatment.

These data suggest that the anxiolytic-like effects of quercitrin might be mediated by 5-H T 1A receptors but not by benzodiazepine site of GAB A A receptors.

The results of the neurochemical studies suggest that these effects are mediated by modulation of the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters.