• 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.