title: Anxiolytic-like effect of paeonol in mice.
abstract: The present study in mice compared the putative anxiolytic-like effect of paeonol, a phenolic component from the root bark of Paeonia moutan, with the benzodiazepine diazepam in the elevated plus maze and the light/dark box-test. The comparison was also with regard to locomotor activity (open-field test) and myorelaxant potential (inclined plane test). As with 2 mg/kg diazepam, paeonol (at 17.5 mg/kg) increased the percentage of time spent on open arms in the elevated plus maze and increased the time spent in the light area of the light/dark box (at 8.75 and 17.5 mg/kg). Since paeonol, in contrast to diazepam, had no effect on either the number of squares entered in the open-field test or in the inclined plane test, its side-effect profile is considered as superior to the benzodiazepine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Box 41, 103 Wenhua Road, 110016 Shenyang, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao Juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Si Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen Juan
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei Jing
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu Lei
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000098:Acetophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003624:Darkness; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000098:Acetophenones; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; C013638:paeonol; D003975:Diazepam