NEUROPHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CYSTOSEIRA USNEOIDES EXTRACT

The effects were studied of an extract of the brown algae Cystoseira u sneoides on the central nervous system (CNS) of mice. At doses between 6.25 and 25 mg/kg the extract had significant effects on spontaneous locomotor activity, exploratory behaviour, D-amphetamine-induced hyper motility, body temperature, pentobarbital-induced hypnosis, motor coor dination and pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions. Dopamine, 3,4-dih ydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-methoxytyramine and homovanilic acid levels were determined in rat striatum and they were slightly modified. The extract also displayed analgesic activity. We conclude that the extrac t of Cystoseira usneoides is a CNS depressant with slight analgesic ef fects.