phytosterols and Amnesia

In order to investigate the effect of cycloartenol ferulic acid ester (CFE, CAS 21238-33-5), a component of gamma-oryzanol which is a phytosterol derived from rice bran, on the central nervous system, a variety of pharmacological tests were performed. It was shown that CFE had a suppressant effect on the central nervous system, but its properties were different from those of existing major and minor tranquilizers. In addition, its efficacy in several models of cerebral dysfunction was demonstrated. Since any clear effects could not be obtained under the treatments with gamma-oryzanol, CFE seems to be more useful than gamma-oryzanol. Thus the results of this study suggest that CFE may serve as a new plant-derived cerebral activator possessing a wide range of pharmacological actions.

Topics: Amnesia; Animals; Anticonvulsants; Avoidance Learning; Blood Pressure; Body Temperature; Cats; Central Nervous System; Circadian Rhythm; Coma; Conflict, Psychological; Coumaric Acids; Female; Hypolipidemic Agents; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Motor Activity; Oryza; Pentobarbital; Phytosterols; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reserpine; Sleep; Stomach Ulcer