Behavioral effects of Ginkgo biloba L., Panax ginseng C.A. Mey. and Gincosan.
The behavioral effects of a standardized extract from Panax ginseng roots (G115), of a standardized extract from Ginkgo biloba leaves (GK501) and of their combination (PHL-00701) (Gincosan) were examined in experiments on rats with undisturbed memory and on rats with experimentally-impaired memory (by alcohol or by muscarinic- and dopamine-receptor antagonists), using methods for active avoidance (shuttle-box) and passive avoidance (step-down and step-through). On multiple administration G115, GK501 and PHL-00701 exerted favorable effects on learning and memory. These effects varied with the dose and administration schedules, with the rat strain and with the behavioral method. Based on earlier results, we discuss the role of changes in brain biogenic amines induced by the extracts in their mechanism of action. The present results allow for ranking G115, GK501 and their combination PHL-00701 (Gincosan) among cognition-enhancing (nootropic) drugs.
Institute of Physiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Experimental Psychopharmacology, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.
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Petkov
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D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D000431:Ethanol; D010936:Plant Extracts; C076260:Gincosan; C114787:Ginkgo biloba extract 501; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract