Inhibition of stress-induced plasma corticosterone levels by ginsenosides in mice: involvement of nitric oxide.
Ginseng total saponins (GTS) injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) at doses of 0.1-1 microg inhibited the i.c.v. injection stress-induced plasma corticosterone levels in mice. The inhibitory action of GTS was blocked by co-administered N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 1.5 microg, i.c.v.), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Of the ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg1, 20(S)-Rg3 and 20(R)-Rg3 injected i.c.v. at doses of 0.01-1 microg, 20(S)-Rg3 and Rc significantly inhibited the i.c.v. injection stress-induced plasma corticosterone levels. The inhibitory actions of 20(S)-Rg3 and Rc were blocked by co-administered L-NAME (1.5 microg, i.c.v.). These results suggest that GTS, 20(S)-Rg3 and Rc may inhibit the i.c.v. injection stress-induced hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal response by inducing NO production in the brain.
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Institute of Natural Medicine, Hallym University, Kangwon-Do, S. Korea.
D H
DH
Kim
J S
JS
Jung
H W
HW
Suh
S O
SO
Huh
S K
SK
Min
B K
BK
Son
J H
JH
Park
N D
ND
Kim
Y H
YH
Kim
D K
DK
Song
D000818:Animals; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D036145:Ginsenosides; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D012503:Saponins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood*
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D036145:Ginsenosides; D012503:Saponins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496321:Nos1 protein, mouse; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D003345:Corticosterone