Neurobehavioral
and neurochemical effects of Passiflora caerulea L. leaf extract on motor function
in rats
Lakku Sindhura and Md. Nazneen Bobby
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 21(1); 154-162;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/211rjbt1540162; (2026)
Abstract
The medicinal application of Passiflora species in Europe started in the 17th century;
however, there has been limited research conducted on Passiflora caerulea L. This
plant is quite adaptable, an herbaceous vine and is part of the Passifloraceae family.
The neurobehavioral and neurochemical effects of extract from the leaves of Passiflora
caerulea L. on rat motor function are investigated in this work. Assessing the extract's
effects on central nervous system neurotransmitter levels, coordination and locomotor
activity was the goal. After chronic oral administration of standardized extract
doses (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight) for a period of 47 days, behavioural evaluations
such as the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) and Hole Board (HB) tests were carried
out. A notable dose-dependent decrease in exploratory activity was noted, especially
at higher extract doses, indicating sedative qualities, even if cognitive performance
stayed constant.
HPLC-based neurochemical investigations showed significant monoaminergic system
modification, with increased dopamine (DA) and its metabolites in the cerebellum
and spinal cord, suggesting improved dopaminergic neurotransmission. These results
support the extract's potential application in the treatment of motor dysfunctions
and anxiety-related disorders by demonstrating its capacity to modify motor behaviour
through dopaminergic and GABAergic pathways. To identify the active ingredients
and completely clarify the molecular processes underlying these actions, more investigation
is needed.
