Assessment of sedative activity of Chrysin: Behavioral approach with pharmacokinetics, toxicological profile and molecular docking

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sedative effects of Chrysin (CHR) along with modulatory effects on diazepam (DZP) and flumazenil (FLU) in an animal sleep model produced by thiopental sodium (TS). Additionally, we explored the pharmacokinetics and potential GABA_A receptor interactions of CHR through computational studies. Swiss albino mice were treated with intraperitoneal administration of CHR (5 and 10 mg/kg), DZP (2 mg/kg), and FLU (0.1 mg/kg) either alone or in combination. Sleeping onset and duration were measured following TS administration. Molecular docking was performed to investigate CHR's binding affinity with GABA_A (PDB: 6X3X) receptors. Results found that CHR significantly (p < 0.05) reduced sleep latency and increased sleep duration in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control group. The highest dose (CHR-10) exhibited the most potent significant sedative effect with onset (11.57 ± 1.74 min) and duration (172.86 ± 7.37 min). Combination therapy of CHR-10 with DZP resulted in synergistic effects, further enhancing sleep duration. In molecular docking, CHR demonstrated a higher binding affinity (-8.9 kcal/mol) for GABA_A receptors compared to DZP (-8.7 kcal/mol) and FLU (-6.6 kcal/mol). CHR also showed favorable pharmacokinetic properties with high intestinal absorption and low toxicity. CHR exhibits promising sedative activity, with the potential to enhance the effects of traditional sedatives like DZP. However, further research, including clinical trials and detailed mechanistic studies, is warranted to explore its full therapeutic potential.

Keywords: Chrysin; GABA(A) receptor; Insomnia; Molecular docking; Pharmacokinetics.