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.
Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Institute of Natural Medicine, Hallym University, Chunchon, Kangwon-Do, 200-702, South Korea.
Do-Hoon
DH
Kim
Yoo-Sun
YS
Moon
Jun-Sub
JS
Jung
Sung-Kil
SK
Min
Bong-Ki
BK
Son
Hong-Won
HW
Suh
Dong-Keun
DK
Song
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