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- Title
Evaluation of the Anxiolytic Properties of Myristicin, a Component of Nutmeg, in the Male Sprague-Dawley Rat.
- Authors
Leiter, Emily; Hitchcock, Gavin; Godwin, Stuart; Johnson, Michelle; Sedgwick, William; Jones, Wendy; McCall, Suzanne; Ceremuga, Thomas E.
- Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the anxiolytic effects of myristicin, a major compound found in nutmeg, and its potential interaction with the y-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Nutmeg has traditionally been used as a spice in food preparation and as an herbal remedy in the treatment of many medical conditions, including anxiety. Fifty-five rats were divided equally into 5 groups: control (vehicle); myristicin; midazolam (positive control); flumazenil and myristicin; and midazolam and myristicin. The behavioral component of anxiety was examined by using the elevated plus- maze (open-arm and closed-arm times) along with analysis of gross and fine motor movements. Data analysis was performed using a 2-tailed multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and least significant difference post-hoc test. Our data suggest that myristicin does not decrease anxiety by modulation of the GABAA receptor but may promote anxiogenesis. When myristicin was combined with midazolam, an antagonist-like effect similar to the flumazenil and myristicin combination was exhibited by a decrease in anxiolysis compared with the midazolam-only group. Myristicin may antagonize the anxiolytic effects of midazolam, increase anxiety, and affect motor movements.
- Subjects
UNITED States; SPICES; ANALYSIS of variance; ANIMAL experimentation; ANXIETY; FLUMAZENIL; MIDAZOLAM; MULTIVARIATE analysis; RATS; STATISTICAL hypothesis testing; STATISTICS; TRANQUILIZING drugs; DATA analysis; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
AANA Journal, 2011, Vol 79, Issue 2, p109
- ISSN
0094-6354
- Publication type
Article