Modulator effect of the hydroalcoholic extract from the Amazonian plant Calycophyllum spruceanum barks on mice anxiety and oxidative stress

Objective: this study aimed to determine the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract from Calycophyllum spruceanum barks (HECSb) on behavioral models and neurochemical markers. Methods: swiss mice (N=72) received HECSb orally (100 mg kg–1) for evaluation in the tests (open field, hole board, plus maze, and tail suspension) and quantification for malondialdehyde-MDA and reduced glutathione-GSH) in brain areas (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and corpus striatum). Results: HECSb reduced the crossing number (45.25 ± 38.63 vs. saline: 83.87 ± 38.63); increased the frequency of head dips (32.57 ± 13.14 vs. saline: 19.42 ± 13.14), exploration time (19.12 ± 10.84 vs. saline: 8.28 ± 10.84 s) and permanence time in open-arms (98.28 ± 65.71 vs. saline: 32.57 ± 65.71 s) and reduced closed-arm entries (8.35 ± 7.8 vs. saline: 16.25 ± 7.8), whereas unaltered the immobilization time (63.71±12.69s vs. saline: 50.28±5.13s). Besides, HECSb increased GSH in corpus striatum (683.3 ± 118.1 vs. saline: 565.2 ± 118.1 μg/g) and MDA in prefrontal cortex (345.1 ± 191.9 vs. saline:153.2 ± 191.9 nmol/g). Conclusion: HECSb presents anxiolytic effects in mice via modulation of the brain oxidative stress.