• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.217-221
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• 2007

Ginseng has been widely used for the management of anxiety and emotional instability, but there is little experimental evidence supporting these clinical applications. The anxiolytic-like effect of ginseng saponin and polysaccharide fractions of white (WG) and red ginsengs (RG) was investigated using the elevated plus-maze test. The saponin (SF) and polysaccharide (PF) fractions were orally administered to male ICR mice for 3 days and behavioral test for the anxiolytic activity were performed. SF significantly increased the time-spent open arms and number into the in the open arm entries. However, PF weakly increased the time-spent in the open arms, but did not increase number into the open ann entries. The WG showed more potent anxiolytic-like effect than that of RG. The anxiolytic-like activities were antagonized by flumazenil, but not by esmolol. These findings suggest the saponin fractions of WG and RG promote the anxiolytic-like activity by antagonizing GABN/benzodiazepine receptors in mice.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2019

Ketamine has long been used as an anesthetic agent. However, ketamine use is associated with numerous side effects, including flashbacks, amnesia, delirium, and aggressive or violent behavior. Ketamine has also been abused as a cocktail with ecstasy, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Several studies have investigated therapeutic applications of ketamine, demonstrating its antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in both humans and rodents. We recently reported that neonatal maternal separation causes enhanced anxiety- and aggressive-like behaviors in adolescent. In the present study, we evaluated how acute and chronic ketamine administration affected the behavioral consequences of neonatal maternal separation in adolescent mice. Litters were separated from dams for 4 hours per day for 19 days beginning after weaning. Upon reaching adolescence (post-natal day 35-49), mice were acutely (single injection) or chronically (7 daily injections) treated with a sub-anesthetic dose (15 mg/kg) of ketamine. At least 1 h after administration of ketamine, mice were subjected to open-field, elevated-plus maze, and resident-intruder tests. We found that acute ketamine treatment reduced locomotor activity. In contrast, chronic ketamine treatment decreased anxiety, as evidenced by increased time spent on open arms in the elevated-plus maze, and remarkably reduced the number and duration of attacks. In conclusion, the present study suggests that ketamine has potential for the treatment of anxiety and aggressive or violent behaviors.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.212.1-212.1
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• 2003

The purpose of the this study was to characterize the putative anxiolytic-like effects of the aqueous extract of Albizzia julibrissin stem bark using the elevated plus maze (EPM) in rats. The water extract of Albizzia julibrissin was orally administered at 10, 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg to adult male SD rats, 1 h before behavioral evaluation in an EPM, respectively. Control rats were treated with an equal volume of saline, and positive control rats buspirone (1 mg/kg). Single or repeated treatment (for 7 days) of the water extract of Albizzia julibrissin (at 100 or 200 mg/kg) significantly increased time-spent and arm entries into the open arms of the EPM, and decreased time-spent and arm entries in the closed arms of the EPM versus saline controls (P ＜ 0.05). (omitted)

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.18-32
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• 2013

Objectives: In this research, the effect of Gyogam-dan (GGD) on depression and immunity were assessed in ovariectomized rats subjected to repetitive stress. GGD is the prescription consisting of Poria cocos and Cyperi Rhizoma. Methods: Ovariectomized rats were repeatedly stressed over a 2-week period. After GGD (100 or 400 mg/kg) were orally administered, Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and forced swimming test (FST) were performed to evaluate depressive and anxiety response. As well, the change of corticosterone (CORT) and the change of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in blood serum and in brain were mesured. Results: 1. In the EPM, there were no statistically significant differences among the groups. 2. In the FST, immobility time significantly decreased in rats of each experiment group compared with the control group (p<0.01). 3. Serum CORT level were decreased in 400 mg GGD group (p<0.05). 4. On IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-4 measurement in the serum and brain, there were not significant increase or decrease compared with the control group. Conclusions: These results suggest that GGD is effective to reduce depression-behavior in ovariectomized rats. However, GGD do not has significant efficacy to reduce anxiety-behavior in EPM test. Measurement of serum CORT level reveals significant decrease and it shows anti-depressant like effect. Results on immunity are not significant.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.365-373
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• 2008

Murraya koenigii leaves commonly known as 'curry patta' are routinely added to Indian gravy and vegetarian dishes by south Indian as a favourate condiment. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Murraya koenigii leaves (MKL) on memory in rats. Elevated plus-maze and Hebb-Williams maze served as the exteroceptive behavioral models for testing memory. Diazepam-, scopolamine- and ageing-induced amnesia served as the interoceptive behavioral models. MKL fed orally to various groups of young and aged rats with diet containing 2, 4 and 8% w/w of MKL for 30 days consecutively were investigated. The MKL diets produced a significant dose-dependent improvement in memory scores of young and aged rats and significantly reduced the amnesia induced by scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) and diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Therefore, it would be worthwhile to specifically investigate the therapeutic potential of MKL in the management of dementia patients.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 2017

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the cognition-enhancing effects of Ixeris dentata (Thunb) Nakai in scopolamine-induced amnesic mice. Scopolamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.) was used to induce amnesia in mice. The cognitive-enhancing activity of the IDE (10, 20 and $40{\mu}g/mL$) was studied by passive avoidance response, elevated plus maze and Y-maze behavioral paradigm in normal and scopolamine-induced amnesic mice. Scopolamine-induced cognitive deficits were significantly reversed by IDE (P < 0.001 at 20 mg/kg) in a dose-dependent fashion in all the behavioral paradigms tested. IDE possesses cognitive-enhancing properties in amnesic mice due to its potent antioxidant action.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.115-120
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• 2009

Woohwangcheongsimwon (WHCSW) is a traditional oriental medicinal fomula which has been clinically used for treating strokes, palpitation, loss of consciousness and anxiety. The purpose of this study was to characterize the putative anxiolytic properties of WHCSW using an elevated plus-maze (EPM) and hole-board test. Control mice were orally treated with an equal volume of vehicle (10% Tween 80 solution), and positive control mice were treated with diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.). In the EPM test, WHCSW significantly increased the percentage of time-spent in the open arms (200 mg/kg, P < 0.05) and the percentage of open arm entries (200 and 400 mg/kg, P < 0.05). WHCSW also significantly increased the number of head-dips in the hole-board test (200 mg/kg, P < 0.05). In addition, the anxiolytic properties of WHCSW examined in the EPM test were inhibited by flumazenil (10 mg/kg, i.p.), a GABA$_A$ antagonist. However, no changes in spontaneous locomotor activity or myorelaxant effects were observed versus 10% Tween 80 controls. These results suggested that WHCSW is an effective anxiolytic agent, and that its anxiolytic effects are mediated via GABA$_A$ receptors.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.129-146
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to characterize the putative antidepressant and antianxiolytic effects of the 70% ethanol extract of Polygala japonica(EEPJ) using animal's behavioral experiment in mice. Methods : The effect of EEPJ on the anxioty and depressive disorder was investigated via mice's behavioral experiment like Elevated plus-maze, Horizontal wire test, Open field test, Forced swimming test, Tail suspension test, and it was happen via any mechanism by WAY 100635, a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist and by Flumazenil, a GABAA antagonist Results : 1. In the EPM, single treatments of the EEPJ(200 and 400mg/kg) had usefully antianxiolytic effects versus vehicle, which was medicated via the serotonergic nervous system. 2. In the HWT, single treatments of the EEPJ were no changes in the myorelaxant effects versus vehicle. 3. In the OFT, single treatments of the EEPJ were no changes in the locomotor activity versus vehicle. 4. In the FST, single treatments of the EEPJ(50mg/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time versus vehicle. 5. In the TST, single treatments of the EEPJ(50mg/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time versus vehicle. Conclusions : These results indicate that EEPJ is an effective antidepressant and antianxiolytic activity in mice, and it might be usefully applied for prevention and treatment of depressive disorder through evolutive study like development of various experimental models.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.6.1-6.10
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• 2015

Fumaria indica Linn. (Syn: Fumaria parviflora, Fumariaceae) is a wildly grown weed, mentioned and recommended in classical Ayurvedic texts for treatments of variety of ailments including dermatological diseases, topical diseases, cardiovascular complaints, circulatory disease, fever and headache etc. The present pilot study was designed to experimentally verify the possibility that fumarates are the major bioactive principles of Fumaria indica extracts involved in their stress response modulating activities, and to estimate pharmacologicallyactive dose ranges of fumarates and standardized methanolic extract of Fumaria indica (MFI). Effect of single, 5 and 10 daily oral doses of pure fumaric acid (FA), monomethyl fumarate (MMF), dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and MFI was quantified in well validated rodent models viz. apomorphine induced cage climbing, stress induced hyperthermia, and elevated plus-maze tests. Obtained results reveal high efficacy of MFI and pure fumarates possess qualitatively analogous activity profiles in all the three tests. There were no significant difference in the potencies of pure FA, MMF and DMF in the three tests, whereas efficacy of MFI in the elevated plus maze test for anxiolytics was higher than in the other two tests. Efficacies of all the four test agents in all the three tests increased with increasing number of days of oral treatments. Results of these pilot experiments should be helpful for more rational selections of pharmacologically interesting dose ranges and treatment regimens of fumarates and Fumaria indica extracts for further more holistic explorations of their diverse therapeutic potentials.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.409-417
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• 2007

We investigated the effect of Arogh, a polyherbal formulation (PHF) on animal models of anxiety based on exploratory behavior. The anxiolytic activity of polyherbal formulation (30, 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) was studied using various behavioural paradigms such as elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark apparatus (LDA), open field apparatus (OFA), hole board apparatus (HBA). Diazepam (1 mg/kg) was used as a standard anxiolytic drug. The effect of PHF (100 and 300 mg/kg) on serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline mediated behaviour was studied by lithium induced head twitches in rats, haloperidol induced catalepsy in mice and clonidine induced hypothermia in rats respectively. In EPM, PHF (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the time spent in open arms and the number of entries in open arms. In LDA, PHF (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the time spent in lit zone. In OFA, PHF (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the number of assisted rearing and the number of squares traversed. In HBA, PHF (100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the number of head poking. In lithium induced head twitches, PHF (100 and 300 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the number of head twitches. In haloperidol induced catalepsy, PHF (300 mg/kg) decreased the duration of catalepsy significantly (P < 0.05) at 60 min. In clonidine-induced hypothermia, PHF (300 mg/kg) did not modify the effect. Drugs must be carefully assessed on EPM test and therefore in the present study EPM is supported by other tests. Present study indicates that Arogh, a polyherbal formulation possess anxiolytic activity. It diminished serotonergic transmission and decreased the duration of catalepsy indicating potentiation of dopaminergic transmission. Thus, Arogh a polyherbal formulation contains bioactive principles which possess anxiolytic activity and modified 5-HT and DA mediated behaviour.