title: Effect of Japanese angelica root extract on pentobarbital-induced sleep in group-housed and socially isolated mice: evidence for the central action.
abstract: We investigated the effect of the aqueous extract of Japanese angelica root (JAR) on pentobarbital (PB) sleep in group-housed and socially isolated mice. The JAR extract (1.25-2.5 g/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently reversed the decrease in PB sleep caused by isolation stress without affecting PB sleep in group-housed mice. The JAR extract (2.5 g/kg, p.o.) also antagonized the decrease in PB sleep caused by the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists yohimbine and idazoxan (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine (200 nmol, i.c.v.) in group-housed mice. These results suggest that the JAR extract reverses changes in the arousal level caused by isolation stress and the activation of central noradrenergic systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Research Institute for Wakan-Yaku, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tezuka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kadota
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006799:Housing, Animal; D019329:Idazoxan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D008729:Methoxamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D012934:Social Isolation; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015016:Yohimbine; D008729:Methoxamine; D010424:Pentobarbital; D019329:Idazoxan