Effects of ginseng saponin administered intraperitoneally on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in mice.
Intraperitoneal injection of ginseng total saponin (GTS; 5 and 20 mg/kg) raised plasma corticosterone levels in mice. However, interestingly, pretreatment of animals with the same doses of GTS (5 and 20 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the immobilization stress-induced increase in plasma corticosterone levels. Of the ginsenosides Rb(1), Rb(2), Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg(1), 20(S)-Rg(3), and 20(R)-Rg(3) injected intraperitoneally at doses of 0.1-2 mg/kg, Rc (2 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the immobilization stress-induced increase in plasma corticosterone levels. GTS and Rc administered intraperitoneally did not affect the immobilization stress-induced elevation of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) level. Pretreatment with GTS and Rc significantly attenuated the increase in plasma corticosterone levels induced by intraperitoneal injection of ACTH (30 microg/kg). These results suggest that GTS and Rc inhibit the immobilization stress-induced increase in plasma corticosterone levels by blocking ACTH action in the adrenal gland. Ginseng may be proposed to be useful for treatment of stress related disorders.
Kim
Do-Hoon
DH
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Institute of Natural Medicine, Hallym University, Chunchon, Kangwon-Do, 200-702, South Korea.
Moon
Yoo-Sun
YS
Jung
Jun-Sub
JS
Min
Sung-Kil
SK
Son
Bong-Ki
BK
Suh
Hong-Won
HW
Song
Dong-Keun
DK
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D005894:Panax / Q000378:metabolism; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D012016:Reference Values; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D012503:Saponins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism
D004338:Drug Combinations; D036145:Ginsenosides; D012503:Saponins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone