Anticonvulsant properties of gamma-decanolactone in mice.
Keywords
Abstract
Lactones have been proven to be bioactive. We have shown that compounds present in the essential oil from Aeollanthus suaveolens, used as an anticonvulsant in the Brazilian Amazon, has sedative properties. This paper reports on the evaluation of the systemic administration of gamma-decanolactone, structurally related to lactones present in the essential oil of A. suaveolens, on mice experimental models useful for detecting psychopharmacological activity. The results show that gamma-decanolactone has dose-dependent marked effects on the central nervous system, including hypnotic, anticonvulsant and hypothermic activity. The effects of gamma-decanolactone revealed by this evaluation point to the validity of exploring lactones as sources of new anticonvulsant agents.