• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.132-135
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the anxiolytic effects of total sponin fraction from Ginseng Radix Rubra (KRG) in mice using the elevated plus-maze model. The water extract of KRG and ginseng total saponins (GTS) purified from the water extract of KRG were administered orally to mice. One hour after administration of KRG water extract and GTS, mice were tested on the elevated plus-maze. The water extract of KRG 100 mg/kg, and GTS 25 and 50 mg/kg did not increase open arm entries and time spent on open arm. However, GTS 100 mg/kg increased the number of open arm entries and time spent on open arm. On the other hand, as the plus-maze test was affected by changes in locomotor activity, an additional test was carried out with the specific aim of monitoring locomotor activity. The water extract of KRG 100 mg/kg, and GTS 25 and 50 mg/kg did not affect the locomotor activity. However, GTS 100 mg/kg significantly decreased locomotor activity. From this study, we suggest that GTS may play an imponant role on the anxiolytic effects in the plus-maze model.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2001

Shin-Ki-Hwan (Shen-Qi-Wan, SKH), Bo-Jung-Ik-Ki-Tang (Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang, BJIKT), and Sa-Mul-Tang (Si-Wu-Tang, SMT) have been used for various kinds of deficiency syndromes, such as 'yang', 'qi', and 'blood', respectively. The objects of this study were to determine the effects of water extracts of three different kinds of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), SKH, BJIKT, and SMT, on the anxiolytic activities in the elevated plus-maze test and to clarify the differences among 'yang', 'qi', and 'blood'. The water extracts of SKH, BJIKT, and SMT were orally administered to male SD rats, at 1.0 g/kg for 10 days. All rats were subjected to behavioral tests for the anxiolytic activity at 10 days. SKH, for the benefiting 'yang'agents, significantly increased the ratio of open arms entry to the total arms entry and time spent in the open arms (p<0.05), suggesting anxiolytic effect. However, both BJIKT and SMT decreased the ratio of open arms entry to the total arms entry and increased times spent in the closed arms (p<0.05). From these findings, it can be speculated that SKH only exhibits anxiolytic effect and that the different anxiolytic effects in the elevated plus-maze test may be come from the meanings of 'yang', 'qi', and 'blood'in oriental diagnostics though the cases are restricted.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3 s.71
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• pp.183-196
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• 2007

Objective : This study was conducted in order to find the effects of Gammaekdaejo-tang (Ganmaidazao-tang, GDT) by subjecting rats to immobilization stress, thereby inducing depression, anxiety and acquisition-retention defects. Method : Rats treated with normal saline, GDT 200mg/kg and GDT 400mg/kg were subjected to stress by immobilization. Afterwards, behavior changes were observed by elevated plus maze test, acquisition test and retention test in the Morris water maze. The results were obtained by immunohistochemically measuring stress hormone (corticosteroid) levels in the blood. Results and Conclusions : 1. The open arm test in the elevated plus maze showed that compared with the normal group, the time spent decreased in the control group and increased in the GDT 400mg/kg group. 2. The locomotor activity test in the elevated plus maze revealed that the control group showed significant activity decrease compared with the normal group but significant increase in the GDT 400mg/kg group. 3. The acquisition test in the Morris water maze showed that the acquisitive ability of the control group significantly deteriorated on the 3rd and 4th day compared with the normal group, but improved significantly in the GDT 200mg/kg and GDT 400mg/kg groups. 4. The retention test on the 7th day in the Morris water maze revealed that the retentive ability of the control group significantly deteriorated compared with the normal group, but the retentive ability of the GDT 400mg/kg group significantly improved. 5. The blood levels of corticosteroid in the control group increased significantly compared with the normal group but the levels of corticosterone in the blood of the GDT 400mg/kg group significantly decreased.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.767-773
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anxiolytic-like effect of the methanol extract of Sophorae fructus (MESF) using elevated plus-maze (EPM), open field test, and horizontal wire test in mice. MESF was orally administered at doses of 50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg to ICR mice 1 h before behavioral evaluation. The control group was given an equal volume of 10% Tween 80, and the positive control group was given diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.). The administration of MESF significantly increased the percentage of time spent in open arms and the entries into the open arms of the EPM compared with the 10% Tween 80-treated control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the anxiolytic-like activities of MESF were antagonized by flumazenil (a GABAA antagonist, 10 mg/kg) but not by WAY-100635 (a 5-HT1A antagonist, 0.3 mg/kg). Futhermore, there were no changes in the locomotor activity and myorelaxant effects of the experimental group, as opposed to the 10% Tween 80-treated control group. Therefore, these findings suggest that MESF promotes the anxiolytic-like activity mediated by the GABAergic nervous system in mice.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.157-178
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• 2003

Objective : This study was designed to assess the protective effects of Chengwhabosimtang on the animal model of depression, chronic mild stress(CMS). Method : Male Sprague-Dawley rats Were used for this experiment. The subjects Were divided into 3 groups (1. CMS-drug: Chengwhabosimtang administered during CMS treatment, 2. CMS-vehicle: water administered, 3. normal ). After 4 weeks of CMS treatment they were executed Forced swimming test(FST) and Elevated plus maze. Tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) in ventral tegmental area(VTA) and c-Fos in paraventricular nucleus(PVN) were measured. Result : 1. In FST, CMS-drug group showed significantly decreased immobility behavior. 2. CMS-drug group showed no significantly lower TH level in VTA than CMS-vehicle group. 3. CMS-drug group showed significantly less c-Fos expressed cell bodies in PVN than CMS-vehicle group. 4. In Elevated plus maze, CMS-drug group showed no significantly anxiety. Conclusion : These results suggest that Chengwhabosimtang may have protective antidepressant effects in CMS model rats. And these effects could be explained by the elevated stress-copying behaviors which are related with PVN of hypothalamus and dopaminergic neurons in VTA.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.437-442
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to characterize the putative anxiolytic-like effects of phenylpropanoids using the elevated plus maze (EPM) test in mice. Cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid and ferulic acid were orally administered to male ICR mice, 1 h before behavioral evaluation in an EPM, respectively. Control mice were treated with an equal volume of vehicle, and positive control mice diazepam (1 mg/kg). A single treatment with phenylpropanoids (at 8 mg/kg) significantly increased time-spent and arm entries into the open arms of the EPM, and decreased time-spent and arm entries into the closed arms of the EPM versus control (P<0.05). However, no changes in the locomotor activity and myorelaxant effect were seen in any group versus the saline control. These results suggest that phenylpropanoids may be an effective anx-iolytic agent.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.476-483
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• 2010

The present study was performed to investigate the putative anxiolytic-like effects of the aqueous extract of the roots of Scrophularia buergeriana (SB-W) using elevated plus-maze (EPM) and hole-board apparatus in mice. SB-W was orally administered at doses of 50, 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg to ICR mice, 1 h before the behavioral evaluation. Control group were administered with an equal volume of saline, and positive control group with buspirone (2 mg/kg, i.p.). The administration of SB-W significantly increased the percentage of time spent in open arms and entries into the open arms of the EPM compared with saline-treated control group (P < 0.05). Futhermore, those anxiolytic-like activities of SB-W were antagonized by flumazenil (a $GABA_A$ antagonist, 10 mg/kg), but not by WAY-100635 (a 5-$HT_{1A}$ antagonist, 0.3 mg/kg). Moreover, there were no changes in the locomotor activity and myorelaxant effects in any group compared with saline-treated control group. In the hole-board test, the administration of SB-W (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly increased the number of head-dipping compared with saline-treated control group (P < 0.05). Therefore, these findings suggest that Scrophularia buergeriana promotes the anxiolytic-like activity mediated by GABAergic nervous system in mice.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.1 s.136
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• pp.22-27
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• 2004

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is one of most important medicinal herbs in traditional chinese medicine. The object of this study was to determine the effects of the water extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) on the anxiolytic-like activities in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test. The watεr extracts of SB (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) were orally administered to male SD rats for 3 days, and behavioral tests for the anxiolytic activity were performed. SB (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) significantly increased in time-spent and arm entries into the open arms of the EPM compared with the control group. Futhermore, those anxiolytic-like activities of SB were antagonized by flumazenil (a $GABA_A$ antagonist, 3 mg/kg), but not by pindolol (a $5-HT_{1A}$ antagonist, 10 mg/kg). SB did not cause myorelaxant effects in the horizontal wire test at any dosage regimen. Therefore, these findings suggest that SB promote the anxiolytic-like activity mediated by GABAergic nervous system in rats.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to characterize the putative anxiolytic-like effects of the 70% ethanol extract of Portulaca oleracea (EPO) using an elevated plus maze (EPM) in mice. The EPO was orally administered at 50, 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg to ICR mice, 1 h before the behavioral evaluation in the EPM, respectively. Control mice were treated with an equal volume of 10% tween 80, and positive control mice with diazepam (1 mg/kg). Single treatments of the EPO significantly increased the percentage of time spent and arm entries into the open arms of the EPM versus controls (P < 0.05). Moreover, there were no changes in the locomotor activity and myorelaxant effects in any group compared with the saline controls. In addition, the anxiolytic-like effects of the EPO were blocked by flumazenil (10 mg/kg, i.p), a $GABA_A$ antagonist not by WAY 100635 (0.3 mg/kg, i.p), a 5-$HT_{1A}$ receptor antagonist. These results indicate that P. oleracea is an effective anxiolytic agent, and suggest that the anxiolytic-like effects of P. oleracea is mediated via the GABAergic nervous system.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.450-456
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• 2019

Taurine has a number of beneficial pharmacological actions in the brain such as anxiolytic and neuroprotective actions. We explored to test whether taurine could be transported to the central nervous system through the intranasal route. Following intranasal administration of taurine in mice, elevated plus maze test, activity cage test and rota rod test were carried out to verify taurine's effect on anxiety. For the characterization of potential mechanism of taurine's anti-anxiety action, mouse convulsion tests with strychnine, picrotoxin, yohimbine, and isoniazid were employed. A significant increase in the time spent in the open arms was observed when taurine was administered through the nasal route in the elevated plus maze test. In addition, vertical and horizontal activities of mice treated with taurine via intranasal route were considerably diminished. These results support the hypothesis that taurine can be transported to the brain through intranasal route, thereby inducing anti-anxiety activity. Taurine's anti-anxiety action may be mediated by the strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor as evidenced by the inhibition of strychnine-induced convulsion.