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 .
Investigation of the anxiolytic effects of xanthohumol, a component of humulus lupulus (Hops), in the male Sprague-Dawley rat.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the anxiolytic effects of xanthohumol , a component of Humulus lupulus ( hops ) , and its potential interaction with the benzodiazepine binding site on the y-aminobutyric acid ( GABAA ) receptor in the male Sprague-Dawley rat . This was a prospect i ve , r and omized , between-subjects experimental study . Fifty-five rats were assigned to 1 Sof 5 groups with 11 rats per group : control ( vehicle ) , xanthohumol , midazolam , midazolam with xanthohumol , and flumazenil with xanthohumol . In this study the elevated plus maze measured the behavioral components of anxiety and motor movements . A 2-tailed multivariate analysis of variance and least significant difference post hoc test was used to determine if a significant difference existed . Our data suggest that xanthohumol does not produce anxiolysis by modulation of the GABAA receptor ; however , there may be a possible interaction between xanthohumol and midazolam , or xanthohumol may influence the modulation of another neurotransmitter site in the central nervous system . Alone , xanthohumol does not show significant modulation of the benzodiazepine receptor . Additional research should investigate if xanthohumol acts as a benzodiazepine GABAA partial agonist or antagonist or if it modulates another neurotransmitter system in the central nervous system
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 .