Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) is a natural flavonoid with potential anxiolytic-like effects in preclinical models. Acute treatment with this molecule (0 - 10 mg/kg) produced a biphasic dose-response in the zebrafish light/dark test (LDT), with anxiolytic-like effect at low doses and anxiogenic-like effects at high doses. Chrysin (1 mg/kg) decreased anxiety-like behavior in the zebrafish novel tank test (NTT), but did not prevent the anxiogenic effects of acute stress. The anxiolytic-like effects of chrysin (1 mg/kg) in the LDT were blocked by pretreatment with picrotoxin, suggesting interaction with γ-aminobutiric acid A (GABAA) receptors. Molecular modeling suggested that chrysin interacts with α5 subunits at residues lining the ion channel pore. These results demonstrate one of the possible mechanisms of action of chrysin, reinforcing the anxiolytic potential of this molecule.
Keywords: Chrysin; Drug Discovery; GABAA receptors; Neurotransmitters; zebrafish.
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