An antidepressant effect of Sho-ju-sen, a Japanese herbal medicine, assessed by learned helplessness model in mice.
The antidepressant effect of Sho-ju-sen, a Japanese herbal medicine composed of extracts of three herbs; kumazasa leaf (Sasa Kurinensis Makino et Sibata), Japanese red pine leaf (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc) and ginseng radix (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), was assessed using a learned helplessness model in mice. The learned helplessness was produced by presenting 120 unavoidable/inescapable shocks for 3 days to the mouse in a shuttle box, and the avoidance training was carried out on day 4. Compared with the control group given tap water, free consumption of Sho-ju-sen (1%, 3% and 10%) for 21 days resulted in a significant amelioration of the response rate at 1% and 3%, and both the response rate and % avoidance at 10%. Although Sho-ju-sen (10%) caused no significant effect following the 7-day intake, it ameliorated the response rate following the 14-day intake. The extract of Japanese red pine leaf, but not kumazasa leaf or ginseng radix, mildly improved the response rate. Learned helplessness was significantly and dose-dependently reduced by imipramine (10 and 30 mg/kg i.p.), while only mildly by diazepam (1 mg/kg p.o.). These results suggest that a long-term consumption of Sho-ju-sen is effective for the amelioration of depression, and the effectiveness is derived mainly from the extract of Japanese red pine leaf.
Kuribara
Hisashi
H
Laboratory of Development, Wakanyaku Medical Institute, Ltd., 1193 Akagiyama, Fujimi-mura, Seta-gun, Gunma 371-0101, Japan.
Tomioka
Hideo
H
Takahashi
Reiko
R
Onozato
Kazumi
K
Murohashi
Naomi
N
Numajiri
Tomomi
T
Iwata
Hisato
H
Koya
Sakuji
S
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028223:Pinus; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D031787:Sasa
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; C430586:sho-ju-sen