Abstract
Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior 75 (2003) 501–512
Review article
Plants
and the central nervous system
E.A. Carlini*
Department of Psychobiology, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University
of Sa˜o Paulo, Rua: Botucatu, 862 Ed. Cieˆncias Biome´dicas,
1o andar, CEP 04023-062, Sa˜o Paulo, SP, Brazil
Received 2 November 2002; received in revised form 20 March 2003; accepted
31 March 2003
Abstract
This review article draws the attention to the many species of plants possessing
activity on the central nervous system (CNS) In fact, they
cover the whole spectrum of central activity such as psychoanaleptic, psycholeptic
and psychodysleptic effects, and several of these plants are
currently used in therapeutics to treat human ailments.
Among the psychoanaleptic (stimulant) plants, those utilized by human beings
to reduce body weight [Ephedra spp (Ma Huang),
Paullinia spp (guarana´), Catha edulis Forssk (khat)] and plants used
to improve general health conditions (plant adaptogens) were
scrutinized.
Many species of hallucinogenic (psychodysleptic) plants are used by humans
throughout the world to achieve states of mind distortions;
among those, a few have been used for therapeutic purposes, such as Cannabis
sativa L., Tabernanthe iboga Baill and the mixture of
Psychotria viridis Ruiz and Pav and Banisteriopsis caapi (Spruce ex Griseb.)
C.V Morton Plants showing central psycholeptic activities,
such as analgesic or anxiolytic actions (Passiflora incarnata L., Valeriana
spp and Piper methysticum G Forst.), were also analysed.
Finally, the use of crude or semipurified extracts of such plants instead
of the active substances seemingly responsible for their therapeutic
effect is discussed.
D 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Inc.
Keywords: Medicinal plants; Plant adaptogens; Khat; Ephedra spp.; CNS plants;
Guarana´; Ayahuasca; Iboga; Passiflora; Valeriana; Kava-kava
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