title: Anxiolytic effects of the aqueous extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to characterize the putative anxiolytic-like effects of the aqueous extract of hooks with stem of Uncaria rhynchophylla using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and the hole-board apparatus in rats and mice. Control rats were treated with an equal volume of saline, and positive control rats with buspirone (1 mg/kg). Single or repeated treatments of the aqueous extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla (200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 7 days significantly increased the time-spent and entries into open arms of the EPM, and reduced the time-spent and entries into the closed arms versus saline controls (P<0.05). However, no changes in spontaneous locomotor activity or myorelaxant effects were observed versus saline controls. In the hole-board test, repeated treatment with the aqueous extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla (100 or 200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) significantly increased the number of head-dips (P<0.05). In addition, the anxiolytic-like effects of Uncaria rhynchophylla extract as assessed using the EPM test were abolished by WAY 100635 (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.), a 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist. These results suggest that Uncaria rhynchophylla is an effective anxiolytic agent, and acts via the serotonergic nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoeki-dong, Dongdeamoon-ku, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Nam Yoon
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Hye Rim
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Bo Kyung
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kang Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sun Yeou
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Jong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002065:Buspirone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D058829:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists; D032070:Uncaria / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D018757:GABA Modulators; D010879:Piperazines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011725:Pyridines; D058829:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists; D014867:Water; D005442:Flumazenil; C090413:N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide; D002065:Buspirone