Abstract

Aegle marmelos Corr. (Rutaceae) is reported to have a wide range of biological activities and the leaves of this plant are used as a brain tonic traditionally in India. In this study, the psychoneuropharmacological activities of essential oil obtained from the leaves of Aegle marmelos were investigated for the first time and the possible mechanistic pathway involved in these activities was also investigated, along with molecular docking study. The chemical composition of extracted essential oil Aegle marmelos (AMEO) was analyzed by Gas chromatography combined with Mass-spectrometer (GC/MS). D-limonene (46.08 %) and α-phellandrene (35.90 %) were characterized as the major constituents. Firstly, the selection of the dose of essential oil was made by calculating the intraperitoneal LD₅₀ value. Then AMEO (25-100 mg/kg, i.p) was investigated for general behavioral, antianxiety, sedative, anti convulsion, antidepressant, and motor coordination activities. The essential oil exhibited significant anxiolytic and antidepressant-like activities at all doses. Whereas, noticeable sedative and anticonvulsant effects were achieved at a high dose of essential oil. In addition, to find out the possible connections of the GABAergic and serotonergic system in these activities, test and positive control groups were pretreated with flumazenil and p-chloro-phenylalanine. The findings of in vivo study indicated that essential oil (EO) activity seems to have occurred via GABAergic and serotonergic pathways. A molecular docking (in silico) study also was accomplished to establish the possible mechanistic pathway involved in in vivo activity and the findings of the in silico study might validate the results of in vivo activity.

摘要

Aegle marmelos Corr。据报道（芸香科）具有广泛的生物活性，该植物的叶子在印度传统上被用作大脑补品。在这项研究中，首次研究了从Aegle marmelos的叶子中获得的精油的心理神经药理活性，并研究了参与这些活性的可能机理，以及分子对接研究。提取精油Aegle marmelos的化学成分通过气相色谱结合质谱仪（GC / MS）分析（AMEO）。主要成分为D-柠檬烯（46.08％）和α-水芹烯（35.90％）。首先，通过计算腹膜内LD ₅₀来选择精油的剂量值。然后研究AMEO（25-100 mg / kg，ip）的一般行为，焦虑，镇静，抗惊厥，抗抑郁和运动协调活动。在所有剂量下，精油均表现出显着的抗焦虑和抗抑郁活性。而在高剂量的精油下，镇静和抗惊厥作用明显。另外，为了找出在这些活动中GABA能和血清素能系统的可能联系，将测试组和阳性对照组用氟马西尼和对氯苯丙氨酸进行预处理。体内研究的结果表明，精油（EO）活性似乎是通过GABA能和血清素能途径发生的。甲分子对接（在硅片）研究也已完成，以建立可能参与体内活性的机制途径，计算机研究的发现可能验证体内活性的结果。