BEHAVIORAL-EFFECTS OF VISNEA-MOCANERA EXTRACT - PSYCHOSTIMULANT AND ANXIOGENIC PROPERTIES

Neuropharmacological studies were conducted in mice with different ext racts from the leaves and fruits of Visnea mocanera L. f. (Theaceae). The combined data obtained from all biological models suggest that the methanol extract from the leaves and the syrup from the fruits appear to have a psychostimulant action, since these extracts increased loco motor activity (the methanol extract at 250 mg/kg p.o.), reduced pento barbital-induced sleeping time (the methanol extract and syrup at 250 mg/kg p.o.) and produced hyperthermia (the syrup at 250 and 500 mg/kg p.o.). The aqueous fraction (250 and 500 mg/kg p.o.) and syrup (500 mg /kg p.o.) from fruits showed an anxiogenic-like profile in mice when e valuated acutely in the elevated plus-maze test.