Anxiolytic-like effect of asiaticoside in mice.
The putative anxiolytic activity of asiaticoside was examined in male mice by using a number of experimental paradigms of anxiety, with diazepam being as a positive anxiolytic control. In the elevated plus-maze test, diazepam (1 and 2 mg/kg) or asiaticoside (5 or 10 mg/kg) increased the percentage of entries into open arms and of time spent on open arms. In the light/dark test, as with 1 mg/kg diazepam, asiaticoside (10 and 20 mg/kg) increased the time spent in the light area and the movement in the light area without altering the total locomotor activity of the animals. In the hole-board test, asiaticoside at 10 mg/kg significantly increased head-dipping counts and duration as well as diazepam (0.3 mg/kg). Thus, these findings indicated that asiaticoside exhibited an anxiolytic-like effect. Further studies will be required to assess the generality of 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, PR China. c100sw@yahoo.com.cn
Wang
Wen Juan
WJ
Li
Wei Jing
WJ
Wang
Rui
R
Li
Yu Lei
YL
Huang
Yan Ni
YN
Liang
Xin
X
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D014315:Triterpenes; C004446:asiaticoside