Effects of Panax quinquefolius L. on brainstem neuronal activities: comparison between Wisconsin-cultivated and Illinois-cultivated roots.
Brainstem neurons receiving subdiaphragmatic vagal inputs were recorded in an in vitro neonatal rat brainstem-gastric preparation. Aqueous extracts of American ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius L.) from Wisconsin and Illinois were applied to the gastric compartment or the brainstem compartment of the bath chamber to evaluate the peripheral gut or central brain effects of the extracts on brainstem unitary activity. After P. quinquefolius extract application to the gastric or brainstem compartment, a concentration-related inhibition in neuronal discharge frequency in brainstem unitary activity was observed, suggesting that P. quinquefolius plays an important role in regulating the digestive process and modulating the brain function in the rat. In this study, pharmacological effects of Wisconsin-cultivated P. quinquefolius and Illinois-cultivated P. quinquefolius were compared. Our results showed that Illinois-cultivated P. quinquefolius possesses a significantly stronger peripheral gastric as well as central brain modulating effect on brainstem neuronal activity. Data from our high performance liquid chromatography ginsenoside analysis suggest that this increase in inhibitory effects by Illinois-cultivated P. quinquefolius may be due to its different ginsenoside profile.
Yuan
C S
CS
Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Illinois, USA. cyuan@midway.uchicago.edu
Wang
X
X
Wu
J A
JA
Attele
A S
AS
Xie
J T
JT
Gu
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects*; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects; D036145:Ginsenosides; D007087:Illinois; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012503:Saponins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014922:Wisconsin
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D036145:Ginsenosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins