Evaluation of the Effects of Co-administration of Humulus lupulus hydroalcoholic Extract with Ketamine on Anesthetic Parameters in Male Rat

Previous studies have shown sedative, hypnotic, anti-anxiety, and pre-anesthetic properties of Humulus lupulus L. (HL). In the present study, the effect of anesthesia with a combination of HL with ketamine on anesthetic parameters among male rats was evaluated.
32 male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of eight in each and then animals intraperitoneally received Humulus lupulus(HL) (100mg/kg), Ketamine(K) (50 mg/kg), Humulus lupulus with ketamine (HLK) (100mg/kg and 50mg/kg, respectively) and diazepam with ketamine(DK) (2.5 and 50 mg/kg, respectively). Induction time, surgical anesthesia(SA) time, walking time, heart and respiratory rate, temperature, and withdrawal reflexes (lip, tail and pedal pinches) were recorded.
Findings: HL group could not induce SA. However, the induction time, SA, walking time, and even withdrawal reflexes of HLK group were similar to the DK group (p>0.05). K group had late and short anesthesia compared to the other two groups (pDiscussion & Anesthesia of HLK group was similar to DK group and probably components of the HL extract with GABAergic activity responsible for their pre-anesthetic activity. However, further studies are required to clarify the exact mechanisms of action.