Souroubea: A Tropical Vine that Alleviates Anxiety

29 Pages·2016·3.47 MB·English

Souroubea:
A Tropical Vine that Alleviates Anxiety
John Thor Arnason,
Professor, University of Ottawa
Tony Durst, John Baker
Souroubea Botanicals
Zul Merali
University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research
Pablo Sanchez
Herbario JVR Universidad Nacional Costa Rica
Arnason Merali & Durst (uOttawa) have had a 20 year collaboration with Costa Rican
Botanists: Profs Luis Poveda, Pablo Sanchez and Marco Otarola at UNA
Genus Souroubea (Marcgraviaceae):
a promising new Natural Health Product treatment for animal and human
anxiety
(Puniani et al 2015. Phytochemistry113: 73-78.)
We targeted the neotropical family
Marcgraviaceae for study:
•Previously completely unstudied
except for one published report
• Souroubea is a genus of vine species
found in Central and South America
(20 species, 6 in Central America)
•Used by Amazonian indigenous groups
for “susto”- a traditional condition in
which a fright causes disease.
•“susto” is a folk description of anxiety
•Our initial animal tests showed anti-
anxiety activity of Souroubea
“Souroubea” ethnobotany
Maya traditional healer’s Association at
Indian Creek Belize:
• 4 healers treat patients with the plant
• Use leaf and bark for fever, witch
craft, ulcer, dysentery.
• Dose: 20-30g/litre of water, boiled
• Drink 1 cup, 2x/day, 3days
• Adverse effects: none
• Witchcraft symptoms: patient is
nervous, withdrawn, not talkative
Principal Investigators trial:
• N= 3, 2 cups of leaf tea
• Calming, no side effects, pleasant
taste
Anxiety test:

rats spend much of their
time exploring enclosed
Elevated Plus Maze:
alleyways (safe zones) &
avoid the open, ( anxiety
provoking zones).

Animals treated with
classical anxiolytic
drugs, such as Valium,
venture out more onto
the open arms of the
maze.
a brave little animal doing
the very risky ‘unprotected
head dip”
Extract of Souroubea alleviated anxiety
in the elevated plus-maze test (left)
Isolation of active principles (right)
(Eva Puniani et al 2015 Phytochemistry)
s
m
r **
a 70

n **
e 60
p
o
50

n
i
40
t
n
e
30
p
s
20
e
m
10
i
T
0
control f1 f2 SS-CE
Rats treated with of Sin-Susto crude
extract (SS-CE) spent significantly
more time on the open arms of the
maze (as compared to controls),
Fraction F1 but not F2 has activity
Triterpenes in Souroubea
used in validated HPLC analysis
Co-occuring amyrins synergize
betulinic acid in unprotected head dips
Pharmacology of Anxiety Reduction:
similar to valium but with reduced side effects
such as muscle weakness and dependence.
(
Mullally et al 2014, Can. J Pharm &Physiol))
Glutamate SSA
GAD GABA-T
Kreb’s
Cycle
GABA
Presynaptic terminal
GAD
GABA
Flumazeil
Antagonist
GAT
Postsynaptic neuron
GABAa
Receptor
Glial cell
In 2010 we decided to produce Souroubea as an antianxiety
Low risk veterinary product for dogs before attempting a human product
Tony Durst (El Jefe) John Baker (Agronomist) Giovani ( grower)