Evaluation of acute toxicity and anxiolytic activity of Erythrina velutina willd decocte

Abstract

Erythrina velutina, known as mulungu, is a species native to the Caatinga, a unique Brazilian biome with semiarid characteristics. This species is popularly used in decoction form as a sedative, anticonvulsant, neuroprotective and anxiolytic. Pathological anxiety is a mental disorder that is currently the most common cause of disability worldwide, a fact that has intensified the search for new treatments with fewer adverse effects and better therapeutic efficacy. Thus, this article aimed to evaluate the acute toxicological effect of Erythrina velutina decoction (DEv) and investigate its possible anxiolytic effect. Acute oral toxicity was evaluated in mice for 14 days. The anxiolytic activity of DEv was investigated through behavioral tests in mice, such as the elevated plus maze test (ECMT) and ethological measures (peeking, standing up, self-grooming and head-diving), spontaneous movement test (SMT) and rota rod test. Acute toxicity in mice did not show signs of toxicity of the decoction at the dose tested. In the ECMT, DEv showed an anxiolytic effect, there was a reduction in ethological factors (peeking, head-diving and self-grooming); in the open field, the decoction increased the number of ambulations, reduced self-grooming and did not change rising up. In the rota rod test, it can be assumed that DEv showed changes in motor activity. Thus, it was possible to prove that DEv has promising anxiolytic activity, corroborating its popular use.

Key words: mulungu; elevated plus maze; phytotherapy.