title: Orally administered Panax notoginseng influence on rat spontaneous behaviour.
abstract: Panax notoginseng root is highly prized in China for its supposed hemorheological properties. Its behavioural effects are still not scientifically investigated; therefore, our preliminary study aim is to evaluate the influence of this phyto-drug on rats spontaneous behaviour. High quality P. notoginseng root dry extract has been orally administered through gastric tube for 10 days in two doses (43 and 86 mg/kg in a volume of 5 ml/kg per day) and its effects on locomotion, emotional reactivity and nutrition have been evaluated in different groups of Wistar rats (ten per group) versus animals treated with 5 ml/kg per day of saline. Actimeter test, open field test and microstructural analysis of unconditioned behaviour were carried out. The data were processed by ANOVA-test followed by the Student's one-tail t-test and a 0.05 significance level was chosen for all statistical tests. A significant increase in spontaneous motility being not associated to an increase in grooming episodes duration and number was found in all tests (P<0.05). Feeding behaviour appeared not to be affected by the treatment. Observed effects did not seem dose-related. Reduction of grooming episodes duration and number and increase of inner crossings in open field suggested that notoginsenoides can modulate emotional responses in rats.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences Department, Pharmacology Section, University of Modena and Reggio nell'Emilia, Via Campi, 287, 41100, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bandieri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arletti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts