title: Interactions of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761), diazepam and ethyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate on social behavior of the rat.
abstract: The social interaction test was used to examine the effects of an extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) and its possible interactions with diazepam and ethyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCE). Pairs of naive (unfamiliar) male Wistar AF rats subjected to the same treatment were placed in a novel test arena that was brightly illuminated, and the duration (in s) of social contact was observed over a 10 min period. Single injections of EGb 761 (8-16 mg/kg, i.p.), given 30 min prior to testing, or repeated oral administration of the extract (48 or 96 mg/kg/day) for 8 days, significantly decreased social contact under conditions that did not influence locomotor activity. Injection of diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.), 30 min before testing, significantly increased social contact. Injection of diazepam to animals that had received repeated oral treatment with EGb 761 (96 mg/kg/ day) increased social interaction to an extent greater than observed with diazepam alone. Injection of beta-CCE (2-16 mg/kg, i.p.), 15 min before testing, significantly decreased social contact. When the animals were treated with EGb 761 (48 or 96 mg/kg/day, p.o. for 8 days) and beta-CCE (4 mg/kg), both of which decreased social interaction when administered alone, the resulting level of social contact was similar to that of control animals. Interactions with certain sites of central GABAA/ benzodiazepine/Cl- channel receptor complexes could be involved in mediating these effects of EGb 761, diazepam and beta-CCE.
authors.affiliation: Psypharm SA, La Brûlatte, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chermat
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brochet
authors.forename: F V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: DeFeudis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Drieu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012919:Social Behavior; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D002243:Carbolines; D003975:Diazepam; D010936:Plant Extracts; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract; C024915:beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester