• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.27-33
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• 2014

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-depressant effects of pharmacopuncture using sumsu (Bufonis venenum). Methods: Animals were divided into three groups (control, sham, and experimental), with eight mice per group. The sham and the experimental groups were exposed to 2 hours of immobilization stress daily for 14 days. They were also injected with normal saline (sham) or subjected to pharmacopuncture with sumsu at the acupoints HT7, SP6, and GV20 (experimental). The depression or anxiety-like behaviors of the mice in each group were evaluated 1 day after treatment. Results: There was no difference in locomotor activity between the groups during the open-field test; i.e., all groups had normal motor function. However, the open-field and the forced-swimming tests revealed that depression and anxiety-like behaviors were decreased significantly in the group treated with sumsu pharmacopuncture. Conclusion: Sumsu pharmacopuncture attenuated depressive or anxiety-like behavior in mice stressed with chronic immobilization. These results suggest that sumsu pharmacopuncture has therapeutic potential for treating neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety or depression disorder.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.341-346
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• 2008

The effects of the ethanol extracts from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP extracts) on body weights, grip strengths, endurances and catecholamine levels after electric footshock (EF) stress in mice and rats were investigated. The animals were treated with GP extracts (50 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 21 days before exposure to EF (duration and interval 10 sec for 3 min, 2 mA) once a day. The increases in body weights were delayed by 13.1% of the control levels by EF-induced stress in mice, which were recovered to 24.1% of the control levels in GP extract-treated groups. The grip strengths were significantly decreased by EF stress in mice and the EF-stressed groups treated with GP extracts increased grip strengths to 115.2% compared to control levels. The endurance times by forced swimming, which reduced significantly by EF stress, were also maintained similar to control levels by GP extracts in rats. In addition, the levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine in serum and brain, and dopamine in brain were significantly increased to 17.5-95.0% of the control levels after exposure of EF stress in mice. However, EF stressinduced increases in norepinephrine and epinephrine in serum were reduced to 17.1-17.3% of the control levels by treatments of GP extracts, and those in dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine in brain were also reduced to 5.0-19.5%. These results suggest that GP extracts showed the protective effects on EF stress-induced physiological functions and can be developed as the promising anti-stress agents.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.81-88
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• 2012

Objective : Banhahubak-tang is indicated for globus hystericus, marked by a subjective sensation as if something stuffed in the throat, chest distress, cough or vomiting, greasy whitish, taut and smooth pulse. In this study, the effects of Banhahubak-Tang extract (BHTe) were tested for anti-stress action. Methods : BHTe was extracted by pure water using electronic extractor and then fed to ICR male mice ($20{\pm}2g$) orally with the dose of 100mg/kg/day for five days. Mice were exposed to sociopsychological stress by restraining and seeing foot shock stressed mice for one hour for five days. Results : BHTe administered group showed a tendency of decreasing of serum corticosterone secretion when compared with control group, and BHTe administration also significantly up-regulated noradrenaline secretions in the dorsal cortex of brain. Lipid peroxidation of the brain tissues of mice were tested by measuring malondialdehyde, but BHTe showed no significant change. The elevated plus-maze test was designed to detect the effect of anxiolytic drugs, and BHTe administered group showed a significant increase of latency time. Conclusions : These results suggest that BHTe can effectively rid the psychological stress and it's related diseases.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.79-94
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• 2003

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-stress effects of Palmuljungjiwon and Gamipalmuljungjiwon on the contents of monoamines in the regional brain of mice immobilized stress. The experimental animals were immobilized in stress cylinder(height: 15cm, diameter: 3cm) for 15 minutes, and administered of Palmuljungjiwon(1.14mg/l0g) and Gamipalmuljungjiwon(1.17mg/10g) water extract for 7 days before stress. The monoamines contents were measured by HPLC method in various part(frontal cortex, hypothalamus, corpus striatum and hippocampus) of mice brain. The following results were obtained : 1. In frontal cortex, the contents of norepinephrine a little decreased in all of the administered group, but the statistical significance was not recognized. The contents of dopamine were decreased with statistical significantly in Gamipalmuljungjiwon administered group compared to control group. The contents of serotonin were decreased with statistical significance in PalmulJungjiwon administered group compared to control group. 2. In hypothalamus, the contents of norepinephrine were decreased with statistical significantly in all of the administered group compared to control group. The contents of dopamine were decreased in all of the administered group compared to control group, but the statistical significance was not recognized. The contents of serotonin were decreased with statistical significantly in Gamipalmuljungjiwon administered group compared to control group. 3. In corpus striatum, the contents of norepinephrine were decreased with statistical significantly in Gamipalmuljungjiwon administered group compared to control group. The contents of dopamine were decreased in all of the administered group compared to control group, but the statistical significance was not recognized. The contents of serotonin were decreased with statistical significance in all of the administered group compared to control group 4. In hippocampus, the content of norepinephrine and dopamine a little decreased in all of the administered group, but the statistical significance was not recognized. The contents of serotonin were decreased with statistical significance in all of the administered group compared to control group. In conclusion, this study shows that Palmuljungjiwon and Gamipalmuljungjiwon are significantly effective on reducing and preventing stress in mice.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.9
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• pp.51-71
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• 2000

The present experiments were designed to study the influence of WalgookwhanhabBojoongikgitang on immune functions of Balb/c mice under stress condition. WalgookwhanhabBojoongikgitang was orally administered to the mice for 15 days. On the 10th day the mice were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and then subjected to electric footshock for 5 days (2 sessions a day, 11 footshocks a 31 min-session). The immune responses to SRBC were determined by means of hemagglutination and BIT cell populations in the spleen were studied by FACS analysis on the 16th day. The results were as follows. 1. After electric footshock, IDlce became sluggish and crowded to one side of the cage. Increased antibody titer for SRBC, increased B cell population, and decreased T cell population in the spleen were also observed. These results confirm that electric footshock caused stress inducing immunological and behavioral changes in Balblc mice. 2. Walgookwhanhab-Bojoongikgitang administration significantly antagonized the effect of electric footshock on the antibody titer for SRBC. As a result, antibody titers for SRBC in the mice treated with Walgookwhanga-Bojoongikgitang were maintained at the similar levels as those of control group mice even after the electric foots hock. 3. Walgookwhanhab-Bojoongikgitang administration also antagonized the effect of electric footshock on the BIT populations in spleen. As a result, Band T populations in the mice treated with Walgookwhanhab-Bojoongikgitang were maintained at the similar levels as in the control group mice even after the electric footshock. Taken together, Walgookwhanhab-Bojoongikgitang seem to help Balb/c mIce to maintain their humoral immune response and immune cell populations at a normal range under the stress conditions, suggesting its possible therapeutic use as a immune function modulator.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1208-1216
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• 2003

Stress is known to influence the immune function via an effect on the central nervous system. To investigated the effects of Kwibitang water extract (KBT) on the specific immune response in C57BL/6 mice stressed by immobilization, we evaluated the changes in the cell viability, DNA fragmentation and subpopulation of thymocytes and splenocytes. KBT enhanced the cell viability of thymocytes and splenocytes decreased by immobilization stress. Also, KBT decreased DNA fragmentation of thymocytes and splenocytes increased by immobilization stress. KBT decreased the population of CD4/sup +/ cells and CD8/sup +/ cells in thymocytes and Thy1/sup +/ cells in splenocytes increased by immobolization stress, but increased the population of B220/sup +/ cells decreased by immobilization stress. In addition, KBT enhanced the production of ν-interferon and IL-2 decreased by immobilization stress. These results indicate that KBT may be useful for the prevention and treatment of stress via enhancement of the specific immune response

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.78-87
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• 2002

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ginseng Radix (Panax ginseng C.A. MEY.), Zizyphi Spinosae Semen (Zizyphus spinosa HU.) and Rehmanniae Radix Preparat (Rehmannia glutinosa LIBOSCH.) on the serotonin- immunoreactivity cells in the Caudal raphe nuclei, Rostal raphe nuclei and hippocampus of the mouse brain. Methods : The mice were stressed by restraining for one hour and treated with herbal medicine by oral feeding. The mice were killed after one hour and observed by electron microscope after immunohistochemical staining. Results : In the caudal raphe nuclei of the medulla oblongata, the highest number of 5-HT immunoreactivity cells were observed at the Zizyphi Spinosae Semen-treated group, while the lowest level among the herbs treatment group was shown at the Ginseng Radix group. In the hippocampus, serotonin-immunoreactive cells were expressed significantly at the CA3 area while the lowest level of it was shown at the control group. In the midbrain, immunoreactive cells were expressed higher than other groups, while observed at the lowest level in the control group. Conclusions : The extracts of Zizyphi Spinosae Semen, Rehmanniae Radix Preparat and Ginseng Radix show a certain degree of effect on the change of serotonin immunoreactive neurons as an index of nerve disorder.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.172-178
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• 2004

To investigated the effects of Kwibi-tang water extract (KBT) on the non-specific immune response in C57BL/6 mice stressed by immobilization, we evaluated the changes in the contents of serum histamine and corticosterone and the phagocytic activity of macrophages. The level of serum histamine and corticosterone was determined with spectrofluorometer. The cell viability was determined by a MTT assay method. The subpolpulation of lymphocytes was determined by a flow cytometry. The phagocytic activity was determined with luminometer. KBT decreased the serum level of histamine and corticosterone increased by immobilization stress. Also, KBT enhanced the phagocytic activity and decreased the level of nitric oxde in murine peritoneal macrophages decreased by immobilization stress. These results indicate that KBT may be useful for the prevention and treatment of stress via suppression of serum histamine and corticosterone level and enhancement of the non-specific immune response.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2004

The aim of this study is to investigate anti-stress effect of Scutellaria baicalensis(SB). The experiments were performed with the use of young (9 weeks of age) male rats of SD strain and the male ICR mice (20-25 g) at the time of first treatment with SB. Animals of the normal group were not exposed to any stress and the control group were exposed to stress. The rats of the Ginseng, Diazepam(BZ) and SB supplementary group were orally administered once a day 100 mg of red ginseng extract, 5 mg of BZ or 100 mg of SB extract/kg body weight and they were exposed to stress. The mice of the Ginseng, BZ and SB supplementary group were given water containing 200 mg of red ginseng extract, 10 mg of BZ or SB extract/100 ml potable water and exposed to stress. Animals were given supplements for 7 days without stress, and then were given supplement for 5 days with restraining and electroshock stress. We recorded stress related behavioral changes of the experimental animals by stressing them using the Etho-vision system and measured levels of blood corticosterone and IL-2. SB supplementation partially blocked the stress effect on locomotion in the rats and mice, and also partially blocked stress-induced behavioral changes such as freezing, burrowing, grooming, smelling, and rearing behavior in the rats and smelling, grooming, tailing, and rearing in the mice. in elevated plus maze test, the staying time of the stressed rats and mice in the open area decreased while it increased in the closed area. But these changes also partially were blocked by SB-supplementation. SB-supplementation decreased levels of the blood corticosterone which was increased by stress in the rats but did not significantly increase levels of blood interleukin 2 which was decreased by stress in mice.

• 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.