Use of plants of the genus Sideritis for preventing and influencing disturbances correlated with a changed serotoninergic neurotransmission

Using plants of the genus Sideritis (A), their plant parts and/or their extracts for the prevention and/or regulation of disturbances with an altered serotoninergic neurotransmission (preferably depression, chronic pain, panic attack, generalized fear disturbance, compulsion syndrome, climacteric disturbance and eating disorders such as bulimia), is new. ACTIVITY : Neuroprotective; Antidepressant; Analgesic; Tranquilizer; Eating-Disorders-Gen.; Antiinflammatory; Antibacterial. The ability of (A) to prevent or regulate altered serotoninergic neurotransmission disturbances, was tested in rat brain using an in vitro assay. The results showed that the resumption rate of (A) (500 mu g/ml) was 0.2413+-0.0315. MECHANISM OF ACTION : None given.