Anxiolytic and sedative effects of extracts and essential oil from Citrus aurantium L.

Citrus aurantium L. is commonly used as an alternative treatment for insomnia, anxiety and epilepsy. Essential oil from peel (EOP) and hydroethanolic (70% w/v) extract (HE) from leaves were obtained. Hexanic (HF), dichloromethanic (DF) and final aqueous (AF) fractions were obtained from HE by successive partitions. Swiss male mice (35-45 g) were treated orally with 0.5 or 1.0 g/kg of these preparations 30 min before the experiments for the evaluation of the sedative/hypnotic activity (sleeping time induced by sodium pentobarbital-SPB: 40 mg/kg, i.p.), anxiolytic activity (elevated plus maze-EPM) and anticonvulsant activity (induced by pentylenetetrazole-PTZ: 85 mg/kg, se or by maximal electroshock-MES: 50 mA, 0.11s, corneal). The results showed that EOP (0.5 g/kg) increased the latency period of tonic seizures in both convulsing experimental models. This effect was not dose-dependent. Treatment with 1.0 g/kg increased the sleeping time induced by barbiturates and the time spent in the open arms of the EPM. Specific tests indicated that the preparation, in both doses used, did not promote deficits in general activity or motor coordination. HF and DF fractions (1.0 g/kg) did not interfere in the epileptic seizures, but were able to enhance the sleeping time induced by barbiturates. The results obtained with EOP in the anxiety model, and with EOP, HF and DF in the sedation model, are in accord with the ethnopharmacological use of Citrus aurantium L., which could be useful in primary medical care, after toxicological investigation.

Effects of the essential oil from Citrus aurantium L. in experimental anxiety models in mice

Citrus aurantium L. is popularly used to treat anxiety, among other indications suggesting central nervous system action. Previous studies showed anxiolytic effect in the essential oil from peel in mice evaluated on the elevated plus maze [Carvalho-Freitas, M.I.R., Costa, M., 2002. Anxiolytic and sedative effects of extracts and essential oil from Citrus aurantium L. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 25, 1629-1633.]. In order to better characterize the activity of the essential oil, it was evaluated in two other experimental models: the light-dark box and the marble-burying test, respectively related to generalized anxiety disorder and to obsessive compulsive disorder. Mice were treated acutely by oral route 30 min (single dose) or once a day for 15 days (repeated doses) before experimental procedures. In light-dark box test, single treatment with essential oil augmented the time spent by mice in the light chamber and the number of transitions between the two compartments. There were no observed alterations in the parameters evaluated in light-dark box after repeated treatment. Otherwise, single and repeated treatments with essential oil were able to suppress marble-burying behavior. At effective doses in the behavioral tests, mice showed no impairment on rotarod procedure after both single and repeated treatments with essential oil, denoting absence of motor deficit. Results observed in marble-burying test, related to obsessive compulsive disorder, appear more consistent than those observed in light-dark box. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gastroprotective mechanisms of Citrus lemon (Rutaceae) essential oil and its majority compounds limonene and beta-pinene: Involvement of heat-shock protein-70, vasoactive intestinal peptide, glutathione, sulfhydryl compounds, nitric oxide and prostaglandin E-2

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of Citrus aurantium l. essential oil on muscle regeneration in mdx mice

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe X-linked recessive disorder characterized by the progressive loss of muscular strength. Mdx mutant mice show a marked deficiency in dystrophin, which was related to muscle membrane stability. The aim of this study was to verify the possible protective anti-inflammatory effect of citrus oil on mdx muscle fibers. Thus, adult male and female mdx mice (014/06-CEEA) were divided into control and citrus-treated. After 60 days of treatment, one ml of blood was collected for creatine kinase (CK) test. Diaphragm, sternomastoideus, anterior tibial and gastrocnemius muscles were removed and processed according to histological routine methods. The observed alterations indicate a direct effect of citrus. Recent studies have improved the diagnosis of muscular diseases but with no definitions of efficient treatments. Intervention with several therapies is important to many patients presenting muscular dystrophy, which enables them to live longer and be more active, while there is no development of gene therapies.

Effects of limonene and essential oil from Citrus aurantium on gastric mucosa: Role of prostaglandins and gastric mucus secretion

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Uso do colírio de Citrus lemon em úlceras de córnea induzidas em coelhos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Gastric Ulcers in Middle-Aged Rats: The Healing Effect of Essential Oil from Citrus aurantium L. (Rutaceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Peroxidase activity and total phenol content in citrus cuttings treated with different copper sources

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Proteomic analysis reveals suppression of bark chitinases and proteinase inhibitors in citrus plants affected by the citrus sudden death disease

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Studies on productivity and characterization of polygalacturonase from Aspergillus giganteus submerged culture using citrus pectin and orange waste

Polygalacturonases are part of the group of enzymes involved in pectin degradation. The aim of this work was to investigate some of the factors affecting polygalacturonase production by an Aspergillus giganteus strain and to characterize this pectinolytic activity. Several carbon sources, both pure substances and natural substrates, were tested in standing cultures, and the best results were obtained with orange bagasse and purified citrus pectin. on citrus pectin as sole carbon source, the highest extracellular activity (9.5 U/ml and 40.6 U/mg protein) was obtained in 4.5-day-old cultures shaken at 120 rpm, pH 3.5 and 30 degrees C, while on orange bagasse, the highest extracellular activity (48.5 U/ml and 78.3 U/mg protein) was obtained in 3.5-day-old cultures shaken at 120 rpm, pH 6.0 and 30 degrees C. Optimal polygalacturonase activity was observed in assays conducted at pH 5.5-6.5 and 55-60 degrees C. The activity showed good thermal stability, with half-lives of 90 and 30 min when incubated at 55 and 60 degrees C, respectively. High stability was observed from pH 4.5 to 8.5; more than 90% of the activity remained after 24 h in this pH range.

Leaf gas exchange and fruit yield in sweet orange trees as affected by citrus variegated chlorosis and environmental conditions

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Oxidative Stability and alpha-Tocopherol Retention in Soybean Oil with Lemon Seed Extract (Citrus Limon) under Thermoxidation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activity of Citrus Seed Oils

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)