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Identification of a Novel GABAA Receptor Channel Ligand Derived from Melissa officinalis and Lavandula angustifolia Essential Oils

Mwajuma Mahita, Rushdie Abuhamdah, Melanie- Jayne Howes, Abdel Ennaceur, Sawsan Abuhamdah, Paul Chazot

European Journal of Medicinal Plants · pp. 810–818 · Published 28 Mar 2014

10.9734/EJMP/2014/9397

Abstract

Aims: Melissa officinalis (Mo) and Lavandula angustifolia (La) essential oils and their major constituents ((E) - caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, geranyl acetate, linalool, nerol, Oct-1-en-3-ol, 3-Octanone, myrcene, allo-ocimene, p-cymene and α- terpineol) assessed by GC-MS) which are shared by these two essential oils were probed in an attempt to identify the GABAAR ligand(s). Study Design: [35S] t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS) radioligand binding assay to GABAA receptors. In vitro neuronal viability assay. Place and Duration of Study: School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, United Kingdom (December 2012 and January 2013). Results: One of the major component (s) of (Mo), trans-ocimene, inhibited [35S] (TBPS) binding to native GABAA receptors in a concentration-dependent manner with an apparent IC50 of 40μM. Concentrations (0.001 mg/ml) of whole (Mo) were shown to display modest beneficial effects upon neuronal viability while at a higher concentration (0.1 mg/ml) of (Mo) and (La) oils induced a neurotoxicity effect. Conclusion: These data provide the first evidence that allo-ocimene is an neuroactive GABAA R inhibitory component found in both (Mo) and (La), and represents a novel GABAA  receptor channel chemotype derived from a natural product.  

Melissa officinalis (Mo) Lavandula angustofolia (La) [35S]-t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S] TBPS) gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor

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