Effect of dehydrocostus lactone and costunolide from Saussurea root on the central nervous system in mice

Saussurea root (Mokko in Japanese; root of Saussurea lappa, Compositae) is an aromatic stomachic and sedative in Oriental medicine. Four extracts of saussurea root were obtained by successively extracting with benzene, chloroform, methanol and water. Each of these extracts was tested for effects on the central nervous system (CNS) of mice by intraperitoneal administration, i. e. potentiation of hexobarbital sleeping time, body temperature alterations, antinociceptive effects, and spontaneous locomotor activity changes. The benzene extract was the most active and was then separated further into five fractions, 1,2,3,4, and 5 by column chromatography. Fraction 2 was shown to be the most active in the aforementioned assays. From this fraction dehydrocostus lactone and costunolide were isolated as the CNS active constituents. They were both active by the intraperitoneal, intragastric and intracerebroventricular routes of administration. They decreased both methamphetamine- and apomorphine-induced spontaneous motility. The level of homovanillic acid in the brain was increased following their administration, while the levels of monoamines and other metabolites were unchanged. Similar results were seen in chlorpromazine-treated mice. These results show that dehydrocostus lactone and costunolide can be considered as neuroleptics by resemblance of their pharmacological activities to chlorpromazine.