PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF VALERIAN (Valeriana officinalis) AGAINST LIPID PEROXIDATION IN RAT BRAIN IN VITRO.
Sudati, J. H.; Fachinetto, R.; Silva, J. C.; Oliveira, J. J. M.; Rocha, J. B. T.
Laboratório de Bioquímica Toxicológica, Depto. Química-CCNE, UFSM, SANTA MARIA, RS.
Valerian is widely used as an herbal medicine. In fact, numerous clinical studies have demonstrated its ability to improve sleep either when administered alone or in combination with other herbs; however, to the best of our knowledge, no study has demonstrated protective effect of Valerian on lipid peroxidation in brain. In the present study, we sought to determine whether ethanolic Valerian extract could alter the levels of basal or stimulated TBARS production by quinolinic acid (QA), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and nitropropionic acid (NPA) in rat brain.
QA (2mM) caused a significant increase in TBARS production in brain homogenates (80%). Ethanolic extract from Valeriana officinalis, reduced the QA-induced TBARS production with an EC50 of approximately 350 mg/mL. SNP (5 mM) caused a significant increase in TBARS production in brain homogenates (110%). Ethanolic extract from Valerian officinalis, reduced the SNP-induced TBARS production with EC50 of approximately 125 mg/mL. NPA (2mM) caused a significant increase in TBARS production in brain homogenates (40%). Ethanolic extract of Valerian officinallis, reduced the NPA-induced TBARS production with an EC50 of approximately 800 mg/mL. Thus, ethanolic extract of Valerian officinalis was able to reduce the TBARS production induced by different pro-oxidants. These results suggest that Valerian extract inhibits the lipid peroxidation in brain and its antioxidant activity may contribute to its pharmacological properties.
Financial support: CNPq, CAPES, FAPERGS
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