Anxiolytic potential of resveratrol and rufinamide combination by modulating GABA-ergic transmission: insights from experiments, molecular docking and dynamics simulations.

Resveratrol is a polyphenolic phytocompound known to possess anxiolytic-like effects but its impact on central gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA) modulation has never been explored. The purpose of this study was to analyze the anxiolytic-like effects of resveratrol alone and in combination with rufinamide, an antiepileptic drug which has never been studied for its anxiolytic potential. The BALB/c mice were tested in a battery of behavior testing after administration of resveratrol (50 mg/kg) and rufinamide (50 mg/kg) alone and in combination. Moreover, molecular docking studies were also carried out to understand the interaction of resveratrol and rufinamide with GABA aminotransferase, GABA receptor and GABA-A transporter type 1. Resveratrol alone exerted notable anxiolytic-like effects and improved outcomes in few experiments but rufinamide alone did not yield any beneficial outcomes. However, the animal co-administered with resveratrol and rufinamide behaved exceptionally well (p<0.05) and preferred open, illuminated and exposed areas of open field, light/dark and elevated plus maze. Further, these animals showed reduced anxiety towards anxiogenic stimuli i.e. holes and marbles in hole board and marble bury tests, respectively. Resveratrol and rufinamide showed moderate to strong binding affinities with GABA proteins, indicating the potential to treat anxiety-like neurological disorders. Moreover, resveratrol and rufinamide were analyzed using molecular docking to determine their interaction with GABA receptors, transporters, and transaminase. The results suggest that their anxiolytic-like effects may be due to inhibiting GABA reuptake transporter 1 protein, leading to increased synaptic levels of GABA neurotransmitter, as seen in stable molecular dynamics results with the 7SK2 GABA transporter protein.