Cannabis-like activity of Zornia latifolia Sm. detected in vitro on rat cortical neurons: major role of the flavone syzalterin. (4th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alloisio, Susanna; Clericuzio, Marco; Nobile, Mario; Salis, Annalisa; Damonte, Gianluca; Canali, Claudia; Fortuna-Perez, Ana Paula; Cornara, Laura; Burlando, Bruno
• Is Part Of: Drug and chemical toxicology. Volume 45:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 919
• Page End: 931
• Publication Date: 2022-03-04
• Subjects: Flavonoids -- hashish -- multielectrode array -- psychoactive metabolites -- smart drugs; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Toxicology -- Periodicals; Toxicology, Experimental -- Periodicals; 615.9005
• DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2020.1788057
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0148-0545

Abstract

Abstract: Zornia latifolia is a plant suspected to possess psychoactive properties and marketed as a marijuana substitute under the name ' maconha brava '. In this study, the effects of fractions obtained from a 2-propanol extract of aerial portions of the plant were determined by multielectrode array (MEA) analyses on cultured networks of rat cortical neurons. Lipophilic (ZL_lipo, mainly containing flavonoid aglycones), and hydrophilic (ZL_hydro, mainly containing flavonoid glycosides) fractions were initially obtained from the raw extract. ZL_lipo significantly inhibited mean firing rate (MFR) and mean bursting rate (MBR) of MEA recordings, while ZL_hydro induced no inhibition. Column chromatography separation of ZL_lipo yielded five fractions (ZL1-ZL5), among which ZL1 induced the strongest MFR and MBR inhibition. NMR and HPLC-MS analyses of ZL1 revealed the prevalence of the common flavonoids genistein (1 ) and apigenin (2 ) (in about a 1:1 ratio), and the presence of the rare flavone syzalterin (6, 8-dimethylapigenin) (3 ) as a minor compound. Exposures of MEA to apigenin and genistein standards did not induce the MFR and MBR inhibition observed with ZL1, whereas exposure to syzalterin standard or to a 1:9 mixture syzalterin-genistein induced effects similar to ZL1. These inhibitory effects were comparable to that observed with high-THC hashish, possibly accounting for the plant psychoactive properties. Data indicate that Z. latifolia, currently marketed as a free herbal product, should be subjected to measures of control. In addition, syzalterin showed distinctive pharmacological properties, opening the way to its possible exploitation as a neuroactive drug.