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Scope: GABAA receptors are modulated by Sideritis extracts. The aim of this study was to identify single substances from Sideritis extracts responsible for GABAA receptor modulation.

Methods and results: Single volatile substances identified by GC have been tested in two expression systems, Xenopus oocytes and human embryonic kidney cells. Some of these substances, especially carvacrol, were highly potent on GABAA receptors composed of [alpha]1[beta]2 and [alpha]1[beta]2[gamma]2 subunits. All effects measured were independent from the presence of the [gamma]2 subunit. As Sideritis extracts contain a high amount of terpenes, 13 terpenes with similar structure elements were tested in the same way. Following a prescreening on [alpha]1[beta]2 GABAA receptors, a high-throughput method was used for identification of the most effective terpenoid substances on GABA-affinity of [alpha]1[beta]2[gamma]2 receptors expressed in transfected cell lines. Isopulegol, pinocarveol, verbenol, and myrtenol were the most potent modifiers of GABAA receptor function.

Conclusion: Comparing the chemical structures, the action of terpenes on GABAA receptors is most probably due to the presence of hydroxyl groups and a bicyclic character of the substances tested. We propose an allosteric modulation independent from the [gamma]2 subunit and similar to the action of alcohols and anesthetics.

(C) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.