Central nervous system evaluation of an ethanol extract of Bidens odorata Cav (Asteraceae) leaves, and its antinociceptive interaction with paracetamol and naproxen

Introduction Bidens odorata Cav (Asteraceae) is a medicinal plant employed for the treatment of pain, anxiety, and depression. This study aimed to evaluate some neuropharmacological effects of an ethanol extract of B. odorata (BOE) and assess its antinociceptive interaction with naproxen and paracetamol. Materials and methods The following neuropharmacological effects were evaluated with the ethanolic extract of B. odorata leaves (BOE) (10-200 mg/kg p.o.): the strychnine-induced-convulsion assay (anticonvulsant effect), rotarod test (locomotor activity), tail suspension test (anti-depressant-like activity), cylinder exploratory test (anxiolytic-like actions), and pentobarbital-induced sleep test (sedative effect). The interaction of the BOE-paracetamol and BOE-naproxen combinations were evaluated with the acetic acid-induced writhing test. The ED50 value of each drug was estimated and the combinations of paracetamol and naproxen with BOE were calculated. Results BOE (100-200 mg/kg) showed anti-convulsant activity by increasing the latency to occurrence of strychnine-induced convulsions, antidepressant-like effects by 28% and 33%, respectively, exerted anxiolytic actions (ED50 = 125 mg/kg), but did not affect motor locomotion. The pre-treatment with 2 mg/kg flumazenil or 20 mg/kg pentylenetetrazol partially reverted the anxiolytic activity shown by BOE alone. BOE (200 mg/kg) prolonged the duration of sleep with similar effect in comparison to clonazepam (1.5 mg/kg). The combinations of BOE-paracetamol (1:1) and BOE-naproxen (1:1) showed antinociceptive synergism. Conclusion BOE induces sedative and anticonvulsant effects. The anxiolytic actions shown by BOE are probably induced by the participation of the GABAergic system. BOE exerts antinociceptive synergistic interaction with paracetamol and naproxen probably by the participation of nitric oxide and ATP-sensitive K+ channels, respectively.