Collectively , the literature reveals pre clinical and clinical evidence for various phytomedicines modulating GABA-pathways , with comparative anxiolytic effect to the current array of pharmaceuticals , along with good safety and tolerability profiles
Anxiety disorders are chronic and functionally disabling conditions with high psychological stress , characterised by cognitive symptoms of excessive worry and focus difficulties and physiological symptoms such as muscle tension and insomnia .
Gamma-aminobutyric acid ( GABA ) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter within the central nervous system and is a key target of pharmacotherapies in the treatment of anxiety .
Although current pharmaceutical treatments are often efficacious , they may cause undesirable side effects including cognitive decrements and withdrawal symptoms .
Plant-based " phytomedicines " may provide novel treatment options , to act as an adjunctive or alternative to existing anxiolytic medications .
As such , we conducted a systematic review to assess the current body of literature on anxiolytic phytomedicines and /or phytoconstituents .
Passiflora incarnata Linneaus as an anxiolytic before spinal anesthesia
Purpose Patients who undergo regional anesthesia experience anxiety in the preoperative period . Passiflora incarnata Linneaus is a plant that has traditionally been used as an anxiolytic and sedative . We aim ed to investigate the effect of preoperative oral administration of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus on anxiety , psychomotor functions , sedation , and hemodynamics in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia . Methods Under local ethics committee approval , 60 patients who were aged 25–55 years and ASAI – II and who were scheduled for spinal anesthesia were enrolled in this prospect i ve , r and omized , double-blind and placebo-controlled study . Thirty minutes before spinal anesthesia , baseline hemodynamic parameters , State-Trait Anxiety Inventory ( STAI ) score , sedation score , and psychomotor function test results were measured , then patients were r and omly assigned to two groups : oral Passiflora incarnata Linneaus extract or placebo was given to the patients . Tests were repeated just before spinal anesthesia . Hemodynamics , sedation score , sensory-motor block and side effects were assessed during the operation . Psychomotor function tests were repeated at the end of the operation and 60 min after the operation . Results There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups for the increase in State Anxiety Inventory ( STAI-S ) score obtained just before spinal anesthesia when compared to the baseline . There was no statistically significant difference in psychomotor function from the baseline for either group . A significant difference was not found between the two groups in demographics , psychomotor function , sedation score , hemodynamics , and side effects . Conclusion Oral preoperative administration of Passiflora incarnata Linneaus suppresses the increase in anxiety before spinal anesthesia without changing psychomotor function test results , sedation level , or hemodynamics
Collectively , the literature reveals pre clinical and clinical evidence for various phytomedicines modulating GABA-pathways , with comparative anxiolytic effect to the current array of pharmaceuticals , along with good safety and tolerability profiles
Anxiety disorders are chronic and functionally disabling conditions with high psychological stress , characterised by cognitive symptoms of excessive worry and focus difficulties and physiological symptoms such as muscle tension and insomnia .
Gamma-aminobutyric acid ( GABA ) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter within the central nervous system and is a key target of pharmacotherapies in the treatment of anxiety .
Although current pharmaceutical treatments are often efficacious , they may cause undesirable side effects including cognitive decrements and withdrawal symptoms .
Plant-based " phytomedicines " may provide novel treatment options , to act as an adjunctive or alternative to existing anxiolytic medications .
As such , we conducted a systematic review to assess the current body of literature on anxiolytic phytomedicines and /or phytoconstituents .