| dc.description.abstract | The research project "Chemical and biological study of natural substances active on
the Central Nervous System" has been focused on the possible effects of essential oils,
their main constituents (in particular monoterpenes), plant extracts and/or their fractions
and/or their constituents on the expression of some proteins involved in the adenylate
cyclase 1 pathway, on cell electrophysiology and their potential effect on in vivo
models.
Eight species were selected including three aromatic plants (Lavandula angustifolia,
Coriandrum sativum, Laurus nobilis); two Citrus medica cultivars (cv 'liscia' and cv
'rugosa'); two species of Ipomea genus known because also Ipomea violacea, a famous
'smart drugs', belongs to this genus; and Hypericum hircinum belonging to the same
genus of Hypericum perforatum known for its antidepressive properties. Essential oils
have been obtained from the aerial parts of L. angustifolia and L. nobilis, from C.
sativum fruits and from the two cultivars of C. medica flavedo, while from the aerial
parts of the two Ipomea species and H. hircinum we obtained different extracts by using
solvents with increasing polarity.
We analyzed the chemical composition of essential oils and the extracts by GC-MS
for the first one, and by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), adsorption chromatography
and HPLC for the second one. With this procedure it was possible to identify the main
constituents of essential oils and the fractions with a chemical profile of interest.
Subsequently, were performed several in vitro and in vivo assays following a
bioassay guided fractionation.
We evaluated the cytotoxicity of the substances on human neuroblastoma cells (SHSY5Y)
in order to determine the most appropriate concentrations to treat
the cells to study the effect on adenylate cyclase 1, protein kinase A, pERK and ERK
protein expression.
In collaboration with the University of Genoa, we evaluated the possible effects on
cellular electrophysiology of L. angustifolia essential oil, its main constituent and of H.
hircinum methanolic extract.
Finally, in the period of research carried out at the Department of Psychobiology of
the University of Valencia in Spain, we evaluated the effects of the essential oil of L.
angustifolia and of the linalool on stress and social interactions with different
experimental procedures in vivo. [edited by author] | it_IT |
