• 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.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.175-184
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• 2021

Objective: Fatigue can decrease both quality of life and work efficiency. Ginseng is one of the most popular herbal treatments for improving personal health, with applications in treating fatigue. However, the exact mechanisms of anti-fatigue effects are still unclear. Thus, we investigated the effect of red ginseng powder (RGP) on exercise capacity and peripheral fatigue using both behavioral and molecular experiments in mice. Design: Four-groups behavioral and molecular experiment. Methods: Male 6-weeks-old ICR mice were treated with distilled water, 100, and 200 mg/kg RGP for 5 days via oral administration. The exercise capacity of each animal group was measured by locomotor activity, rota-rod, hanging wire, and cold swimming tests. Additionally, after performing the treadmill to induce fatigue, lactate expression and molecular experiments were investigated using mice gastrocnemius. Results: Mice treated with RGP exhibited increased exercise capacity in the behavioral tests. Additionally, RGP induced a dose-dependent decrease in lactate levels after high-intensity exercise, and Monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 4 expression increased in groups treated with RGP. However, there was no significant change in MCT1. Conclusions: These results suggest that RGP exerts several anti-fatigue properties by lower lactate and improved exercise capacity. Increased MCT4 expression may also affect lactate transport. Thus, this study suggests that the anti-fatigue properties of RGP might be associated with MCT4 activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2010

Alpinia katsumadai has been widely used in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine to treat a variety of conditions including emesis and gastric disorders such as gastric pain and distended abdomen. To investigate the antinociceptive potential and mechanism of A. katsumadai, ethanolic extracts of A. katsumadai were assayed on cyclooxygenase-2 and evaluated for analgesic activity based on phenylbenzoquinone (PBQ)-induced writhing and carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia tests. A. katsumadai extracts inhibited the cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme activity in a dose-dependent fashion at an $IC_{50}$ value of 0.044 ${\mu}g$/ml. A. katsumadai extract (30-300 mg/kg, orally (p.o.) administered) significantly inhibited PBQ-induced writhing. This inhibition was judged not to be a false positive because a Rota-rod test revealed no difference in muscular coordination when compared to the controls. With regard to the carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia, A. katsumadai extract (30-300 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a significant, dose-dependent increase in the withdrawal response latencies. Naloxone did not reverse the analgesic effect of A. katsumadai extract in the carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia. Taken together, these results suggest that the antinociceptive activity of A. katsumadai is not related to the opioid receptor. A. katsumadai extract has remarkable, non-opioidreceptor-mediated analgesic effects on PBQ-induced writhing and carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia that occur via cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition.

• 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.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.342-347
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• 2011

In the present study, the anticonvulsant effects of Artemisia capillaris Herba (AC) and its major constituent, esculetin (ECT), were tested and the mechanism studied. Locomotion, Myorelaxation, motor coordination and electroshock seizure experiment were conducted in mice. To identify the anticonvulsant mechanism effect of this drug, chemical-induced seizure in mice and the ionic movement in neuroblastoma cells were also observed. The ethanol extract of AC was orally administered to mice 30 min. prior to testing and ECT was intraperitoneally injected. AC and ECT treatment did not change locomotor activities as well as activities on the rota-rod, which indicates that they did not cause a sedative and myorelaxation effect. AC and ECT treatment increased threshold of convulsion induced by electroshock. AC treatment also inhibited convulsion induced by pentylenetetrazole. In the case of strychnine however, only high dose of AC treatment inhibited convulsion. AC and ECT treatment increased the $Cl^-$ influx into the intracellular area in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, bicuculline, a GABA antagonist, inhibited the $Cl^-$ influx induced by AC and ECT. These results indicate that ECT induces the anticonvulsive effect of AC extract through the GABAergic neuron.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2014

Laurus nobilis (L. nobilis) is traditionally used as an herbal medicine to treat various diseases. Ethanol (EtOH) consumption entails physiological, mental and psychomotor alterations. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of L. nobilis in attenuating the EtOH-induced psychomotor alterations. L. nobilis was administered to SD rats, 30 minutes before EtOH administration (4 g/kg), at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg. Evaluations of psychomotor activity in the open-field, accelerating rota-rod, wire, and swimming ability were done at 1, 2, 4 and 8 hours after EtOH administration. In addition, blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels were also measured. Pre-treatment of L. nobilis significantly improved EtOH-induced psychomotor alterations and decreased blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels. These findings suggest that L. nobilis might be an effective substance to attenuate the harmful effects of EtOH, particularly psychomotor alterations, and can potentially be considered as a functional food.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 1995

This study was aimed to evaluate the anti-stress effect of Chungkansoyosan on the rats stressed by immobilizaton. The experimintal animals were immobilized in stress box $(5cm{\times}5cm{\times}20cm)$ for 12 hours in a day during 3 days, and administered 90ng/100g Chungkansouosan extract for 15 days before stress. The epinephrine, dopamine contents in rat brain were measured by using HPLC method. The following results were obtained: 1. Total cholesterol contents of control group was $58.1{\pm}2.56mg/dl$, that of sample group was $61.6{\pm}3.70mg/dl$. This shows decreasing effect, but not significant. 2. Triglyceride contents of control group was $39.8{\pm}6.75mg/dl$ that of sample group was $27.7{\pm}4.23mg/dl$. This shows significant decrease in sample group comparing to control group. 3.Epinephrine contents of control group was $8.21{\pm}0.31ng/mg$ that of sample group was $6.33{\pm}1.02ng/mg$ this shows significant decrease in sample group comparing to control group. 4. Dopamine contents of control group was $2.45{\pm}0.23ng/mg$ that of sample group was $1.65{\pm}0.41ng/mg$ this shows decreasing effect, but not significant. 5. The quantity of muscle relaxation by Rota Rod was improved significantly by Chungkcansoyosan in immobilizaton-stressed rats. According to the above results, it is concluded that Chunkansoyosan will be useful as a preventive and remedy against stress disease.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2017

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by recurrent and unpredictable seizures that are usually controlled with antiepileptic/anticonvulsive drugs. However, most antiepileptic drugs produce various side effects such as tolerance and sedation. Thus, there is a growing interest for alternative anticonvulsive drugs, preferably from natural or herbal sources. In this study, we evaluated the anticonvulsive effects of Rehmannia glutinosa (RG). The anticonvulsive effect of RG extract was evaluated using electroshock- and chemical-induced seizure tests in mice. To identify its probable mechanism of action, the effects of RG extract on $Cl^-$ influx was measured in vitro. We found that RG extract has anticonvulsive effects against electroshock-induced seizures, as indicated by an increased seizure threshold in mice. The RG extract also decreased the percentage of seizure responses induced by the GABAergic antagonist, pentylenetetrazole. These results suggest that the anticonvulsive effects of RG extract are mediated through a GABAergic mechanism. In support of this mechanism, our in vitro test showed that RG extract increases intracellular $Cl^-$ influx. Furthermore, RG extract did not show sedative and/or muscle relaxant effects in the open-field and rota-rod tests. Altogether, these results confirm that RG extract could be a herbal anticonvulsant and a potential alternative for clinical use.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2008

Oroxylin A is a flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis, which is one of the most important medicinal herbs in traditional Korean medicine. In this study, we investigated the psychopharmacological activities of oroxylin A using the open field, rota-rod, balanced wire and plus-maze tests in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto Rats (WKY). Oroxylin A reduced hyperactivity in SHR (ADHD animal model) although it tended to increase locomotor activity in WKY. Methylphenidate did not reduce hyperactivity. Oroxylin A alleviated impulsive behaviors such as rearing, the percentage of moving time to the central area and the tendency to move into an unstable condition (open area in elevated plus-maze). Methylphenidate also reduced the percentage of staying time in the central area and the tendency to move into an unstable condition. Both oroxylin A and methylphenidate enhanced motor attention in SHR and WKY. Oroxylin A antagonized the muscimol ($GABA_A$ receptor agonist)-induced $Cl^-$current and its action was similar to that of bicuculline ($GABA_A$ receptor antagonist). The effects of oroxylin A may be caused by the antagonism at the $GABA_A$ receptor. Thus, oroxylin A may be a candidate of drug for treatment of ADHD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.201-208
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• 2017

Background: Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv. or Vietnamese ginseng (VG) is a recently discovered ginseng species. Studies on its chemical constituents have shown that VG is remarkably rich in ginseng saponins, particularly ocotillol saponins. However, the psychopharmacological effects of VG have not been characterized. Thus, in the present study we screened the psychopharmacological activities of VG in mice. Methods: VG extract (VGE) was orally administered to mice at various dosages to evaluate its psychomotor (open-field and rota-rod tests), sedative-hypnotic (pentobarbital-induced sleeping test), anti-stress (cold swimming test), anxiolytic (elevated plus-maze test), and cognitive (Y-maze and passive-avoidance tests) effects. Results: VGE treatment increased the spontaneous locomotor activity, enhanced the endurance to stress, reduced the anxiety-like behavior, and ameliorated the scopolamine-induced memory impairments in mice. In addition, VGE treatment did not alter the motor balance and coordination of mice and did not potentiate pentobarbital-induced sleep, indicating that VGE has no sedative-hypnotic effects. The effects of VGE were comparable to those of the Korean Red Ginseng extract. Conclusion: VG, like other ginseng products, has significant and potentially useful psychopharmacological effects. This includes, but is not limited to, psychomotor stimulation, anxiolytic, antistress, and memory enhancing effects.