Agonistic activities to the benzodiazepine receptor by extracts of medicinal plants (I) screening of some sedative plant extracts

This study was aimed to evaluate an agonistic activity to benzodiazepine receptor of several medicinal plants, which have been used as sedatives in oriental medicine. Methanol extracts of medicinal plants which were used in this study inhibited the binding of [³H]Ro15-1788, a selective benzodiazepine receptor antagonist to benzodiazepine receptor of rat cortices. Inhibitory activity of Cyperus rotundus was observed to be the highest among the tested medicinal plants. Methanol extracts of Cyperus rotundus and Zizypus jujuba inhibited a [³H]flunitrazepam, a selective benzodiazepine receptor agonist, binding to benzodiazepine receptor. GABA significantly enhanced the inhibition of [³H]flunitrazepam binding by Cyperus rotundus and Zizypus jujuba, and these positive GABA shifts supported the strong possibility of agonistic activity to benzodiazepine receptor. From these results, it may be concluded that the substance or substances with neurochemical properties characteristic of a benzodiazepine receptor agonist may be important components and contribute to the sedative property of these medicinal plants.