CHED 945 |
| Valeriana officinalis extracts are used for their alleged sedative and anxiolytic effects. However, the agents responsible for the Valerian effects have not been identified. Valerian extracts stimulate the GABA transmission. Alternatively, Valerian's relaxation and sleepiness could result from its interactions with glutamate receptors (GluR). We examine such interaction by incubating Valerian extracts and 20 nM [3H]Glutamate with synaptic membranes. Aqueous Valerian extracts have no effect on NMDA, while ethanol and DMSO extracts, albeit at high concentrations (1 mg/mL), interact with NMDA receptors. Valerian extracts act on AMPA glutamate receptors. The interactions of Valerian extracts with kainic acid (KA) receptors are inhibited by water and DMSO extracts, while the EtOH extract potentiates [3H]Glu binding. Valerian extracts (1mg/mL) interact with quisqualic acid, a non-selective metabotropic GluR-I agonist opposing the effects of Valerian. Our experiments show that the solvent used can greatly influence the Valerian extract and its interaction with different Glutamate receptors. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Biochemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |