Avaliação da potencial atividade farmacológica anticovulsivante do óleo essencial da Cyperus articulatus L.(Priprioca) em juvenis de tambaqui

Abstract

The species Cyperus articulatus L., popularly known as priprioca, is widely used in Amazonian folk medicine. Due to the lack of studies carried out with the essential oil of Cyperus artilculatus L. (OECA) originating in the region of Santarém, West of the State of Pará, this work evaluated the possible anticonvulsant effects of this plant in Colossoma macropomum juveniles. Thus, this study aimed to systematize the behavior patterns related to convulsive activity induced by the drug Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in concentrations of 5; 7.5; 10 and 15mM in tambaqui juveniles, and reversal by the action of Diazepam and OECA. For the induction of experimental epileptic seizures, the animals (n = 7 in each group) were individually exposed to 5; 7.5; 10 and 15 mM PTZ, dissolved in water. The control group was only exposed to water from the system. Two groups of animals were exposed to 70.24mM DZP for 40 minutes in a beaker containing a 500 ml solution. One group was transferred to an aquarium containing 1500 ml of treated water only, to evaluate the sedative effect of DZP (DZP control), and another group to a similar tank containing 10 mM PTZ solution (DZP /PTZ 10 mM); the animals were placed individually in the tanks and their behavioral activity was recorded for a single 20-minute session with the aid of a camera. One group was exposed to 0.005% (v/v) OECA for 40 min in a beaker containing 500 ml of treated water. Subsequently, the animals were transferred individually to aquariums containing 1500 ml of water with 10mM PTZ solution (OECA/ 10mM PTZ), in order to record the anticonvulsant activity of OECA for a single session, within 20 minutes. The behavioral profile during 20 min of PTZ immersion (5, 7.5, 10 and 15 mM) was characterized by stages numbered in: (0) short swim, (1) increased swimming activity and high frequency of opercular movement, (2) erratic movements, (3) circling movements, (4) clonic seizure behavior, (5) falling to the bottom of the tank and tonic seizure-like behavior, (6) death. The animals exposed to the highest concentrations (10 and 15Mm) reached stages 4 and 5 more quickly. Pre-treatment with DZP considerably attenuated the severity of the crises. Pre-treatment such as OECA, as well as DZP, considerably reduced seizures, demonstrating excellent anticonvulsant activity. Overall, the results showed a detailed temporal behavioral characterization of a PTZ seizure model in tambaqui juveniles, as well as an anticonvulsant action of OECA, which makes it a potential new anticonvulsant drug.