The effects of angelica essential oil in three murine tests of anxiety.
The effects of angelica essential oil in three assays predictive of anxiolytic activity in male mice were studied, with diazepam as a positive anxiolytic control. In the elevated plus-maze test, compared to the positive control diazepam, angelica essential oil (30.0 mg/kg, PO) had a modest anxiolytic-like effect (increased the percentage of open-arm time and reduced the percent protected head dips). In the light/dark test, angelica essential oil (30.0 mg/kg) prolonged the time spent in the light area without altering the locomotor activity of the animals. In the stress-induced hyperthermia test, 60 and 70 min after drug administration, rectal temperature was measured twice, angelica essential oil at the dose of 30.0 mg/kg inhibited stress-induced hyperthermia. Thus, these findings indicate that angelica essential oil, as does diazepam, exhibits an anxiolytic-like effect. Further studies will be required to assess the generality of the present findings to other species and behavioural paradigms.
Chen
Si Wei
SW
Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Box 41, 103 Wenhua Road, 110016 Shenyang, P.R. China. c100sw@yahoo.com.cn
Min
Li
L
Li
Wei Jing
WJ
Kong
Wei Xi
WX
Li
Jing Fang
JF
Zhang
Yi Jing
YJ
D029971:Angelica sinensis; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003624:Darkness; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010938:Plant Oils; D003975:Diazepam