Proceedings of the British Pharmacological Society at http://www.pA2online.org/abstracts/Vol13Issue3abst025P.pdf

General Anaesthetic / Hypnotic Activity of JV2015 in Mice and Rabbits

Currently, only few effective intravenous general anaesthetic agents are available for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia.These drugs have certain limitations in routine use. Flavonoids have been shown to possess central nervous system depressant effect mediated through the ionotropic GABA A receptors present in the CNS (1). Studies have demonstrated the sedative effect of a few flavonoid compounds (2). Compounds with hypnotic property can be used as intravenous general anaesthetic agents. The aim of the present study was to investigate a synthetic flavonecompound JV2015 for its general anaesthetic / hypnotic activity in mice and rabbits.

Adult swiss albino mice (n=8) of both sex (20 – 30g) were injected with the test compound (30, 40 or 50 mg/kg) or thiopentone (25mg/kg) in a volume of 0.2ml through the tail vein over a period of 10sec (3). In Newzealand white rabbits (n=6) of both sex (1.5 – 2.0kg) the test compound (25 or 30mg/kg) was injected through marginal ear vein over a period of 30sec. The sleeping time was recorded and compared with the vehicle and standard control. The experimental protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Data are expressed as mean ± S.E.M. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA followed by Post hoc Dunnett’s ‘t’ test (SPSS v.16)

Thiopentone resulted in an immediate hypnotic effect in mice lasting for a period of 5.75 ± 0.27min. The test compound in doses of 30, 40 & 50mg/kg produced hypnosis that lasted for a period of 4.31 ± 0.17min , 4.50 ± 0.29min and 7.63 ±0.50 min respectively (Fig. 1). In rabbits, the duration of sleeping time was 9.00 ± 0.58min and 20.67 ± 0.72min with 25 and 30 mg/kg dose respectively (Fig. 2).

The present study has clearly demonstrated the hypnotic effect of JV2015 and also identified a novel candidate drug with a potential to develop in to an ultra short acting intravenous general anaesthetic agent.

1. Fernandez SP et al., (2006). Eur J Pharmacol 539: 168–176.

2. Karim N et al., (2012). Br J Pharmacol 165: 880–896.

3. Glen JB. (1980). Br J Anaesth 52: 731–742.