SEDATIVE AND HYPOTHERMIC EFFECTS INDUCED BY BETA-ASARONE, A MAIN COMPONENT OF ACORUS-CALAMUS

In the present study we investigate the behavioural effects of beta-as arone, the main compound of the essential oil obtained from Acorus cal amus. beta-asarone, when administered intraperitoneally in rats, exert s sedative and hypothermic but not analgesic effects. beta-asarone, ho wever, when administered in association with the cannabinomimetic drug WIN 55,212-2, was shown to potentiate some of the typical behavioural activities induced in animals by cannabinoids. Binding assays, perfor med on cortical synaptic membrane preparations using a specific cannab inoid radioligand ([H-3]CP-55,940), excluded the ability of beta-asaro ne to exert a direct agonistic activity on CB1 receptors, Hence, beta- asarone cannot be considered a pure cannabinomimetic agent but it can be envisaged at least as an allosteric modulatory agent. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.