Erythravine

Abstract: The effects of acute oral administration of erythrinian alkaloids, i.e. (+)-α-hydroxy-erysotrine, erythravine and (+)-11α-hydroxy-erythravine isolated from the flowers of Erythrina mulungu were investigated in two animal models of anxiety in mice—the light–dark transition model (LDTM) and the elevated plus-maze (EPM). In the LDTM, erythravine (3, 10 mg/kg) and (+)-11α-hydroxy-erythravine (10 mg/kg) increased the time spent by the animals in the illuminated compartment and (+)-11α-hydroxy-erythravine (3 mg/kg) increased the number of transitions between compartments of the LDTM, suggesting an anxiolytic-like effect of these erythrinian alkaloids. Nevertheless, the third alkaloid studied, (+)-α-hydroxy-erysotrine, did not change any behavioral response with the range of doses used (3—10 mg/kg). Since the oral administration of the crude extract of E. mulungu (EM) (100—400 mg/kg) did not modify the conventional measures of anxiety in the EPM, this animal model was not chosen to evaluate the anxiolytic properties of the isolated alkaloids. These results suggest that the alkaloids erythravine and (+)-11α-hydroxy-erythravine are responsible for the anxiolytic effects of the crude extract of E. mulungu.

Abstract: Objectives The erythrinan alkaloids erythravine and 11α-hydroxy-erythravine from Erythrina verna (Vell.) have been extensively investigated for their anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects. Both are structurally similar to the erythrartine that also exhibit anxiolytic effects, but there is no report on its anticonvulsant potential. Since some anxiolytic drugs can be useful in the management of epileptic seizures, we investigated whether erythrartine could prevent seizures induced by different chemoconvulsants. Methods Experiments were performed using different concentrations of erythrartine injected via intracerebroventricular in rats submitted to pilocarpine, kainic acid, pentylenetetrazol or picrotoxin-induced seizures. Moreover, the rotarod test was performed to verify the effects of erythrartine on animal motor coordination. Results Our data showed for the first time that erythrartine prevented the occurrence of seizures induced by all of the chemoconvulsants tested and did not affect locomotor performance neither produced sedative effect on animals. Conclusion Obtained results validate the ethnopharmacological significance of E. verna and provide new information on erythrartine, another erythrinian alkaloid of biotechnological and medicinal interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides the use of molecules for cholinergic serotonergic and/or gabaergic system models, revealing pharmaceutical compositions comprising 11 -OH-erythravine, erythravine, erythrartine, pharmaceutically acceptable isotherals, salts, byproducts and/or solvates thereof, optionally containing other Erythrine byproducts, for the treatment of anxiety disorders; processes for obtaining said pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides the use of molecules for cholinergic and/or serotonergic system models, revealing pharmaceutical compositions comprising 11-OH-erythravine, erythravine, erythrartine, pharmaceutically acceptable isotherals, salts, byproducts and/or solvates thereof, optionally containing other erythrina byproducts, for the treatment of anxiety disorders; processes for obtaining said pharmaceutical compositions are also revealed.