Abstract

MOREIRA, DAVYSON L. et al. Effect of leaf essential oil from Piper solmsianum C.DC. in mice behaviour. An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc. [online]. 2001, vol.73, n.1, pp. 33-57. ISSN 0001-3765.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0001-37652001000100004.

The essential oil from Piper solmsianum leaves and its major compound (sarisan) were tested to verify their influences upon mice behaviour. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation in a modified Clevenger extractor and analysed by GC/ MS. This analysis revealed in the oil the presence of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and of arylpropanoids. The compound sarisan, a myristicin analogue, was isolated from the oil to perform the pharmacological tests. Emulsions of the oil and of sarisan (5.0 and 10.0% v/v) were used in the tests. Pentobarbital (30 mg/ kg s.c.) or diazepam (2.5 mg/ kg s.c.) were tested as standard drugs to verify depressant or anxiolytic effects, respectively. Both essential oil and sarisan showed to have exciting and depressant effects in the tested animals.

Keywords : Piperaceae; Piper solmsianum; essential oil; sarisan; psychopharmacologic effect.