APPLICATION OF RADIOLIGAND RECEPTOR-BINDING ASSAYS IN THE SEARCH FOR CNS ACTIVE PRINCIPLES FROM CHINESE MEDICINAL-PLANTS

Extracts of Schefflera bodinieri and S. delavayi (Araliaceae), Celastr us angulatus and C. orbiculatus (Celastraceae), Clerodendrum mandarino rum and C. bungei (Verbenaceae), Periploca callophylla and P. forresti i (Asclepiadaceae), Alangium platanifolium (Alangiaceae) and Uncaria r hynchophylla (Rubiaceae) were assessed for CNS activity against 18 rad ioligand receptor binding assays. The receptors used were alpha 1-, al pha 2- and beta-adrenoceptors, 5HT-1, 5HT-1A, 5HT-2, opiate, adenosine -1, benzodiazepine, Ca+2 channel, sulphonylureas, dopamine-1, dopamine -2, muscarinic, histamine-1, Na+/K+ ATPase, GABA(A) and GABA(B). The r esults indicate that these ligand-receptor binding assays are useful f or understanding the mode of action of herbal medicines and for bioass ay guided fractionation of plant active ingredients.