INTERACTION OF A HIGH DILUTION OF AGARICUS MUSCARIUS L WITH DOPAMINE AGONISTS AND ANTAGONISTS IN MODULATING CATALEPSY OF MICE
The ethanolic extract of a fungus Agaricus muscarius L at a dilution of 10−60 induces in albino mice a very mild catalepsy which is highly potentiated when the drug is followed by the mixed dopamine agonist apomorphine and selective D2 agonist bromocriptine. The high dilutin of Agaricus is produced in 30 steps and in each step the dilution (1:100) is mechanically agitated or sonicated. The drug thus prepared is called potentized. Pretreatment of Agaricus markedly reduces haloperidol-induced catalepsy in mice. The potentized drug is effective only through the oral route and not through the intraperitoneal route. Agaricus also interferes with the locomotor activity of mice modified by the neurotransmitter drugs. It is suggested that potentized Agaricus acts on receptors in lingual epithelium and the impulse goes through afferent nerves to specific brain areas where specific G-proteins are expressed. These G-proteins associate with D2, D3 and D4 receptors and serve as their agonists resulting in the modulation of catalepsy in mice.
