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Planta Med 2013; 79(09): 723-730
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1328553
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Anxiolytic Action of Pterostilbene: Involvement of Hippocampal ERK Phosphorylation

Authors

  • Md. Al Rahim  

    1   University of Mississippi, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University, MS, USA
    3   Current affiliation: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

  • Agnes M. Rimando  

    2   U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, University, MS, USA

  • Kalpten Silistreli

    1   University of Mississippi, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University, MS, USA
    4   Current address: Turkey Ministry of Health, T.C Sağlık Bakanlığı Dış İlişkiler Dairesi Başkanlığı D Blok Sıhhiye, Ankara, Turkey

  • Abir T. El-Alfy

    1   University of Mississippi, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University, MS, USA
    5   Current address: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chicago State University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Further Information

Publication History

received 28 September 2012
revised 05 April 2013

accepted 09 April 2013

Publication Date:
15 May 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Pterostilbene, a natural analog of resveratrol, has diverse health-beneficial properties. However, the neurological activities of this compound are largely unexplored. Here, we report that pterostilbene shows anxiolytic-like actions by down-regulating phosphorylated levels of extracellular regulated kinases in the hippocampus of mice. Adult male mice administered pterostilbene (1–10 mg/kg, p. o.) were subjected to the elevated plus maze test. Pterostilbene manifested anxiolytic activity at 1 and 2 mg/kg doses, demonstrated by increases in % permanence time and number of open arm entries. The locomotor activity of the animals was unaffected at all doses. Western blot analysis revealed a decrease in both extracellular regulated kinase1 and extracellular regulated kinase 2 phosphorylation in hippocampal homogenates from mice treated with 1 and 2 mg/kg pterostilbene. Moreover, pterostilbene was detected in the plasma and brains of mice following single oral administration. Anxiolytic activity was not observed at the higher doses (5 and 10 mg/kg). However, no impairment of motor function was observed either, suggesting a favorable safety index for the compound. These results suggest that pterostilbene has the potential for therapeutic drug development for anxiety disorders.

Key words

pterostilbene - anxiolytic activity - elevated plus maze - ERK phosphorylation - hippocampus

These authors contributed equally to this work.