**3. Concluding remarks**

*Behavioral Pharmacology - From Basic to Clinical Research*

**2. Author's contribution to the present book**

and natural pharmaceutical resources used in pain control.

central nervous system are discussed.

evaluated drugs.

development of potential pharmacological treatments to be applied in the clinical research to contribute in the wellness of the human being. The relevance of these contributions is the discussion of the experimental analysis of behavior under diverse pharmacological treatments, including complementary results from neurochemistry, neuropharmacology, neurophysiology, psychopharmacology, neuroanatomy, and molecular biology that permit the identification of the mechanism of action involved in the potential beneficial and toxic effects of the

Cueto-Escobedo and collaborators (Chapter 2) show a brief history of the development of behavioral pharmacology over the years, as well as the contribution of this science in the development of animal models that have contributed in the knowledge of the biological bases of behavior and importantly in the identification of potential therapeutic and toxic agents that may impact on the central nervous system disorder. Fernández-Demeneghi and collaborators (Chapter 3) report how identifying the potential beneficial effects of functional food on health has been possible through the use of the techniques of behavioral pharmacology. In this case they report the effects of berry juice or its secondary metabolites (i.e., polyphenols, anthocyanins, and other constituents) on some central nervous system disorders like anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and cognitive alterations. Hernandez-Lozano and collaborators (Chapter 4) discuss the potential use of botanical and natural pharmaceutical resources in the management of neuropathy pain based on preclinical studies. Additionally, include relevant information about of the phytochemical, toxicity, adverse effects, and biosecurity reported to botanical

The evaluation of natural products or new synthetic molecules with potential application in the treatment of symptoms that impact on the wellness of animals or human beings firstly may be based on exploring their effects in a traditional context (i.e., using extracts, infusions, or juice), but derived from these studies, a more specific screening is focused on isolated, characterized, and purified secondary metabolites, where a more controlled dosage may be realized. Garcia-Rios and collaborators (Chapter 5) describe and discuss preclinical results of specific plant secondary metabolites and their potential use in clinical therapy of anxiety and depression, which is compared with clinically effective anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs. Particularly, the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of terpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, and sterols and their mechanism of action on the

Behavioral pharmacology studies also had contributed in understanding

neurobehavioral bases that underlie some psychiatric disorders and the pharmacological action of drugs in a specific context. Guillen-Ruiz and collaborators (Chapter 6) provide a general overview of the usefulness of animal behavioral models to explore the anxiety disorders in childhood and its neurobiological bases and to then explore potential anxiolytic therapies to minimizing side effects in this particular population. Finally, Ocampo-Ocampo and collaborators (Chapter 7) address the problem of addiction and their treatment from behavioral analysis and an integrative holistic approach, with the aim of preventing or reducing the physical and mental damage that addictive substances may cause to the health, improving the quality of life of psychoactive substance

**2**

consumers.

This short chapter must be considered to be a brief and necessarily incomplete review that has the only purpose of introducing the works of the authors in the next chapters to the reader. As you can see, behavioral pharmacology has brought great progress in the understanding of the neurobiology of different central nervous system disorders and in the understanding of the mechanism of action of drugs used to treat such disorders, as those mentioned in this chapter and the whole book. We hope the present work will enrich your knowledge on the study of behavioral pharmacology.
