• 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 Life Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.290-296
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• 2014

The present experiment investigated putative anxiolytic-like effects of quercetin using an elevated plus-maze (EPM) and hole-board apparatus test in mice. Quercetin is a flavonoid widely distributed in nature. Quercetin (1.25, 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg) was orally administered to ICR mice 1 h before a behavioral evaluation in the EPM. Control mice were treated with an equal volume of vehicle, and positive control mice were treated with buspirone (2 mg/kg, i.p.). The mice administered quercetin (5 mg/kg) spent a significantly longer percentage of time in the open arms of the EPM and their percentage of entries into the open arms was significantly increased compared to the vehicle-treated controls (p<0.05). The anxiolytic-like activities of quercetin were antagonized by trans-4-aminocrotonic acid (a $GABA_{A-{\rho}}$ agonist, 20 mg/kg) but not by flumazenil (a $GABA_A$ antagonist, 10 mg/kg) or WAY-100635 (a $5-HT_{1A}$ antagonist, 0.3 mg/kg). Moreover, there were no changes in the locomotor activity or myorelaxant effects in any group compared with the vehicle-treated controls. In the hole-board apparatus test, the number of head-dips increased significantly in the single treatment with quercetin (5 mg/kg) group compared to the vehicle-treated controls (p<0.05). These findings suggest that quercetin can promote anxiolytic-like activity, mediated by the GABAergic nervous system, in mice.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2004

This study was carried out to evaluate the putative anxiolytic-1ike effects of the aqueous extracts of Sanjoin-tang (SJIT) and its ingredients using the elevated plus maze (EPM) test in mice. SJIT consists of five herbs, namely, Zizyphi Spinosi Semen (roasted), Glycyrrhizae Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, and Hoelen. The aqueous extracts of SJIT and each herbal drug were orally administered to ICR mice, 1 hr before evaluating behavioral activity in the EPM test, respectively. Repeated treatments (for 3 days) of the aqueous extract of SJIT (400 mg/kg) significantly increased time-spend in the open arms and arms entries into the open arms in the EPM test. Zizyphi Spinosi Semen (400 mg/kg), an ingredient of SJIT, significantly increased timespent in the open arms and arm entries into the open arms (P < 0.05). However, the other ingredient of SJIT did not show any anxiolytic-like behaviors. In addition, the anxiolytic-like effects of Zizyphi Spinosi Semen were blocked by pindolol (lO mg/kg), a $5-HT_{1A}$ receptor antagonist. These results suggest that Zizyphi Spinosi Semen (roasted) as an ingredient of SJIT plays a crucial anxiolytic role, and it acts via the serotonergic nervous system.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.507-517
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• 2015

The bark of Magnolia officinalis has been used in traditional oriental medicine to treat a variety of mental disorders including anxiety and depression. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of M. officinalis ethanol extract on stress-induced alterations in learning and cognitive function using a passive avoidance test (PAT) and also on anxiety-related behavior using the elevated plus-maze test (EPM) in female rats . The degree of Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the region of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the locus coeruleus (LC) was measured using an immunohistochemical method. Corticosterone concentrations in serum were also measured. The ethanol extract from Magnolia officinalis was orally administered to female rats 30 minutes before evaluating their immobilization stress and anxiety-related behavior using an elevated plus-maze test and a passive avoidance test. Time spent in the open arms of the EPM increased in the M. officinalis-treated group compared with that of the saline-treated control group. In the passive avoidance test, the memory and cognitive function improved in the M. officinalis extract-treated group. M. officinalis extracts reduced elevated corticosterone concentrations in serum. Also, stress-induced TH increases were suppressed in the M. officinalis extract-treated group in the LC and the VTA region. These results suggest that M. officinalis might prove to be an effective anxiolytic anti-stress 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.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to characterize the putative anxiolytic-like effects of the aqueous extract of the root of Polygala tenuifolia ( AEPT) using an elevated plus maze (EPM) and hole-board apparatus in mice. The AFPT 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 saline, and positive control mice with buspirone (2 mg/kg). Single treatments of the AEPT significantly increased the percentage of time spent and arm entries into the open arms of the EPM vedrsus saline 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 the hole-board test,single treatments of the AEPT (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly increased the number of headdips versus saline controls (P<0.05). In addition, the anxiolytic-like effects of the AEPT were blocked by WAY 100635(0.3mg/kg, I.p), a5-$HT_{1A}$ receptor antagonist not by flumazenil, a $GABA_{A}$ antagonist. These results indicate that P. tenuifolia is an effective anxiolytic agent, andsuggest that the anxiolytic-like effects of P. tenuifolia is mediated via the serotonergic nervous system.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.371-376
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• 2010

Glycyrrhizae radix (GR) is an herbal medicine that is commonly used in the East Asia for treating a variety of diseases, including stomach disorders. The objective of the present study was to examine the anti-stress effects of GR on repeated stress-induced alterations of anxiety, learning and memory in rats. Restraint stress was administered for 14 days (2 h/day) to the rats in the Control and GR groups (400 mg/kg/day, PO). Starting on the eighth day, the rats were tested for spatial memory on the Morris water maze test (MW) and for anxiety on the elevated plus maze (EPM). We studied the changes of the expressions of cholineacetyl transferase (ChAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the locus coerleus (LC) using immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the rats treated with GR had significantly reduced stress-induced deficits on their learning and memory on the spatial memory tasks. In addition, the ChAT immunoreactivities were increased. Gor the EPM, treatment with GR increased the time spent in the open arms (p<0.001) as compared to that of the control group. Moreover, GR treatment also normalized the increases of the TH expression in the LC (p<0.001). In conclusion, administration of GR improved spatial learning and memory and reduced stress-induced anxiety. Thus, the present results suggest that GR has the potential to attenuate the behavioral and neurochemical impairments caused by stress.