• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.243-252
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• 2007

Anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract and its hydrolyzed fraction. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract (SCE) and its hydrolyzed fraction (SCE-40) on depression and anxiety-related behaviors in mice. Actions of SCE and SCE-40 on serotonin, norepinephrine and GABAergic systems in the rat cerebral cortex membranes were also examined. SCE and SCE-40 significantly reduced the immobility time in the forced swimming and tail suspension test in mice. Duration time of the open arms in the elevated plus maze test was significantly increased in the SCE and SCE-40-treated groups, compared with the saline-treated control group. SCE and its fraction SCE-40 significantly inhibited serotonin and norepinephrine transporter and GABA receptor binding, compared to the saline-treated group. In addition, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake were significantly suppressed by SCE and SCE-40. These results demonstrate that SCE and SCE-40 produce anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects through enhancing central serotonin, norepinephrine and GABAergic transmissions. These results suggest that SCE and SCE-40 as functional food might prove to be an effective antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.165-173
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• 2005

The main aim of this study was to investigate stress related activities of ginsenosides and their action mechanism. Control group and ginsenoside supplemented groups were exposed to stress while no-stress group was not done. Animals of each group (n=$8\~10$) were orally administerd 100 mg red ginseng extract (R-G), or 10 mg ginsenosides/kg body weight once a day. Animals were given materials for 5 days without stress, and then were given supplements for 5 days with restraint and electroshock stress. Mice were given materials for 5 days for experiments on anti-fatigue effect. After loading final stress, stress-related behavioral changes of experimental animals were examined and plasma corticosterone levels were measured. R-G and ginsenoside $Rb_{1}$ supplementation partially blocked the stress effects on locomotion and elevated plus-maze test in rats and mice. They also partially blocked stress induced behavioral changes such as freezing, smelling, face-washing, rearing behavior in rats. R-G and $Rb_{1}$ decrease adrenal gland size and plasma corticosterone level, which were increased by stress in rats. R-G increased enduring time on the Rota rod, cold water and horizontal wire, but $Rb_{1}$ didn't. Effects of $Rb_{1}$ on plusmaze test were inhibited by administration of flumazenil. These results suggest that $Rb_{1}$ is the main antistress principle in ginseng and it's effect is modulated by GABAnergic nervous system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2018

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma-induced psychiatric disorder characterized by impaired fear extermination, hyperarousal, anxiety, depression, and amnesic symptoms that may involve the release of monoamines in the fear circuit. The present study measured several anxiety-related behavioral responses to examine the effects of berberine (BER) on symptoms of anxiety in rats after single prolonged stress (SPS) exposure, and to determine if BER reversed the dopamine (DA) dysfunction. Rats received BER (10, 20, or 30 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, once daily) for 14 days after SPS exposure. BER administration significantly increased the time spent in the open arms and reduced grooming behavior during the elevated plus maze test, and increased the time spent in the central zone and the number of central zone crossings in the open field test. BER restored neurochemical abnormalities and the SPS-induced decrease in DA tissue levels in the hippocampus and striatum. The increased DA concentration during BER treatment may partly be attributed to mRNA expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and the DA transporter in the hippocampus, while BER exerted no significant effects on vesicular monoamine transporter mRNA expression in the hippocampus of rats with PTSD. These results suggest that BER had anxiolytic-like effects on behavioral and biochemical measures associated with anxiety. These findings support a role for reduced anxiety altered DAergic transmission and reduced anxiety in rats with PTSD. Thus, BER may be a useful agent to treat or alleviate psychiatric disorders like those observed in patients with PTSD.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.525-538
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• 2018

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma-induced psychiatric disorder characterized by impaired fear extermination, hyperarousal, and anxiety that may involve the release of monoamines in the fear circuit. The reported pharmacological properties of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) include anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, and neuropsychiatric activities. However, the anxiolytic-like effects of TMP and its mechanism of action in PTSD are unclear. This study measured several anxiety-related behavioral responses to examine the effects of TMP on symptoms of anxiety in rats after single prolonged stress (SPS) exposure by reversing the serotonin (5-HT) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. Rats were given TMP (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg, i.p.) for 14 days after SPS exposure. Administration of TMP significantly reduced grooming behavior, increased the time spent and number of visits to the open arm in the elevated plus maze test, and significantly increased the number of central zone crossings in the open field test. TMP administration significantly reduced the freezing response to contextual fear conditioning and significantly restored the neurochemical abnormalities and the SPS-induced decrease in 5-HT tissue levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. The increased 5-HT concentration during TMP treatment might be partially attribute to the tryptophan and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid mRNA level expression in the hippocampus of rats with PTSD. These findings support a role for reducing the altered serotonergic transmission in rats with PTSD. TMP simultaneously attenuated the HPA axis dysfunction. Therefore, TMP may be useful for developing an agent for treating psychiatric disorders, such those observed in patients with PTSD.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2016

Pro-inflammatory cytokine and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are modulated in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study investigated the effects of ibuprofen (IBU) on enhanced anxiety in a rat model of PTSD induced by a single prolonged stress (SPS) procedure. The effects of IBU on inflammation and BDNF modulation in the hippocampus and the mechanisms underlying for anxiolytic action of IBU were also investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given IBU (20 or 40 mg/kg, i.p., once daily) for 14 days. Daily IBU (40 mg/kg) administration significantly increased the number and duration of open arm visits in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test, reduced the anxiety index in the EPM test, and increased the time spent in the center of an open field after SPS. IBU administration significantly decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, $interleukin-1{\beta}$, and BDNF, in the hippocampus, as assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis and immunohistochemistry. These findings suggest that IBU exerts a therapeutic effect on PTSD that might be at least partially mediated by alleviation of anxiety symptoms due to its anti-inflammatory activity and BDNF expression in the rat brain.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.418-424
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• 2012

Repeated stress induces corticosterone release. However, it is not clear that stress results in further elevation of corticosterone levels, and the roles of released corticosterone to aggravate stress-related symptoms are also not clear. This study investigated whether neuronal modulation was induced in the amygdala after two kinds of stress, that is, such as electric shock and corticosterone injection. It was found that stress by electric shock decreased the expression of tyrosine hydoroxylase (TH) in the amygdala while the expression of pERK was increased. However, there is no difference in the expressions of TH and pERK in the frontal cortex compared with those of the control group. The level of corticosterone was significantly increased in the serum after stress. To determine the effect of corticosterone on the induction of anxiety and the expression of TH, the rats received corticosterone (20 mg or 40 mg/kg i.p.) for 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks, respectively. The spent time in open arms of the EPM (elevated plus maze) test was significantly decreased after 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks. The time spent in open arms of the EPM test after repeated injections of corticosterone was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of TH in the amygdala was reduced after following repeated corticosterone treatment for 2 weeks and 3 weeks. Collectively, this study suggests that corticosterone has a major role in the induction of anxiety and the modulation of TH expression, at least, in the amygdala.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.151-163
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• 2008

1. Objective This study was done to identify the anti-stress effect of Hyeongbangdojeok-san (HDS), Yanggyeoksanhwa-tang(YST) in Soyangin. 2. Methods Experimental animals were composed of YST, HDS+stress groups which were administered each by 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and the Saline+stress group. On the 1st day, making the rats forced swim and on the 2nd day, applying Forced swimming test to the rats. After FST, the levels of Corticosterone in the blood were measured. For the study of learning retardation, memory ability and anxiety reaction, experimental animals were composed of YST, HDS+restraint stress groups which were administered each by 400mg/kg, no stress group and the Saline+restraint stress group. Restraint stress were applied 2 hours a day for 3 weeks. On the last day of the 3rd week, Elevated Plus Maze(EPM) was applied to the groups and Morris Water Maze(MWM) was applied to the groups for 7 days. 3. Results 1. As the results of measuring FST which reflects depression, the YST+stress group and the HDS+stress group showed significant effect in comparison with the Saline+stress group. The levels of Corticosterone in the blood were decreased only in the 400mg/kg YST+stress group. 2. As the results of measuring how long EPM which reflects anxiety reaction stayed in the open arm, there was the trend which can suppress anxiety reaction in the HDS+restraint stress group bur no statistical significance. But there was any suppression of anxiety reaction in the YST+restraint stress group. 3. According to the result of MWM, the saline+restraint stress group showed the learning retardation which means increased time arriving at goal compared to the normal group at the second and third day of measurement. On the contrary, a learning retardation was significantly decreased in the YST+restraint stress group at the third day of measurement. 4. Among the Probe trial test a memory loss occurred in the saline+restraint stress group, but memory ability was significantly increased in the YST+restraint stress group. 4. Conclusion: As the results above, Soyangin Yanggyeoksanhwa-tang has significant influence to the antidepression effect, the learning retardation, the anxiety reaction and also in the Hormone level. Hyeongbangdojeok-san has significant influence to the antidepression effect, in the Hormone level, bur not to the learning retardation and anxiety reaction. prefer to drink cold water, and who are suffering from chronic gastritis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.242-249
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• 2004

The main aim of this study was to investigate stress related activities of Sun-ginseng extract as a candidate for anti-stress-related functional supplement by comparing its effect to those of red ginseng, which is also known to alleviate stress. Normal group was not exposed to stress while the control group was exposed to stress. Rats were orally administered once a day with 200 mg red ginseng (RG) extract, 100 or 200 mg Sun-ginseng (SG) extract/kg body weight. Mice were given water containing 400 mg red ginseng extract, 200 or 400 mg SG/100 mL potable water. Rats were given supplements for 5 days without stress, and 5 days with restraint and electroshock stress. After final stress, stress-related behavioral changes of experimental animals were recorded and levels of blood corticosterone were measured. Mice were given supplements for 5 days through drinking water, and then fatigue related motor activity were recorded. SG-supplementation partially blocked stress effect on locomotion and elevated plus maze test in rats, and also partially blocked stress-induced behavioral changes such as freezing, burrowing, smelling, facewashing, grooming and rearing behavior in rats. SG-supplementation decreased blood corticosterone level which is increased by stress in rats. Effects of SG may not be modulated by GABAnergic nervous system. SG-supplementation prolonged swimming time and staying time on the wire and rotarod wheel in mice. These results suggest that SG partially protects living organisms from stress attack in some cases and thus has the potential to be used as a functional food to alleviate stress response.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.297-310
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• 2014

Objectives: This study is designed to investigate the effects of Banhahubak-Tang Extract (BHTe) on stress. Methos: BHTe was fed to ICR male mice ($20{\pm}2g$) orally with the dose of 100 mg/kg/day for five days. Mice were then exposed to sociopsychological stress by observing foot shock stressed mice for one hour for five days while restrained. Results: 1) The BHTe-administered group showed a tendency of decreasing of serum corticosterone secretion compared with the control group. 2) The BHTe-administered group showed an increase in noradrenalin secretions in the dorsal cortex of the brain, but it was not significant. 3) BHTe administration had no effect on the brain level of lipid peroxidation. 4) BHTe administration decreased the serum level of lipid peroxidation. 5) BHTe administration decreased the Cu,Zn-SOD in the brain. 6) BHTe administration had no effect on catalase activity in the brain. 7) BHTe administration had no effect on the brain level of GSH. 8) BHTe administration increased the serum level of DPPH free radical scavenging activity, but not significantly enough to make a comparison with BHT. 9) The elevated plus-maze test is designed to detect the effect of anxiolytic drugs. The BHTe group showed a significant increase in latency time. Conclusions: These results suggest that BHTe can effectively rid the subject of the effects of sociopsychological stress.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1088-1096
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether wild ginseng (WG) administration could attenuate anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and expression of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) following withdrawal from repeated morphine administration in rats. Male rats were administered daily doses of WG (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg, i.p.) for 5 days, 30 min before morphine injection (40 mg/kg, s.c). The anxiety- and depression-like behavioral responses were measured 72 h after the last morphine injection using an elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming test (FST), respectively. Changes in hypothalamic CRF and NPY expressions were also examined by analyzing their immunoreactivities in the hypothalamus. Daily administration of WG significantly reduced anxiety- and depression-like behavior, and elicited the suppression of CRF expression and the stimulation of NPY expression in the hypothalamus. Our results demonstrated that WG extract might be effective at inhibiting the anxiety and depression responses due to morphine withdrawal by possibly modulating the hypothalamus CRF and NPY systems. Furthermore, these findings imply that WG extract can be used for developing new medication to cure or alleviate morphine withdrawal symptoms and to prevent relapses of morphine use.