Phytosedatives for Drug Discovery

Abstract

The incidence of central nervous system (CNS) disorders has increased significantly in recent years. Anxiety, nervous tension, agitation, insomnia, depression, epilepsy, dementia, and severe chronic pain represent the major neuropsychological disturbances. These disorders may occur alone or coexist, making their diagnosis and treatment challenging. Pharmacological treatment of such disorders can be in the form of a single drug or a combination of barbiturates, benzodiazepines, azapirones, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, among many other antidepressants. The adverse effects of these chemically synthesized drugs include dependence, amnesia, and dizziness as well as sexual disorders and restlessness. In this context, screening for new classes of sedatives is necessary for the production of drug leads with minor side effects. Plants are considered sustainable reservoirs for unique secondary metabolites, including phytotoxins that have been used for thousands of years for prevention as well as treatment of several disorders, including those related to the CNS. In this chapter, we introduce the major neuropsychological disturbances and the natural sources that support the treatment of these disorders. Moreover, we provide an overview of the plant metabolites that have been traditionally used or tested in vivo for their sedative effect.