title: Anxiolytic effect of saponins from Panax quinquefolium in mice.
abstract: The anxiolytic effect of the saponins from Aniliaeea Panax quinquefolium L. (PQS) was studied in male mice by using a number of experimental paradigms of anxiety and compared with that of the known anxiolytic compound diazepam. Use of the elevated plus-maze test revealed that PQS (50 mg/kg, p.o.) and diazepam (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) increased the percentage of time and entries spent in open arms. In the light/dark test, PQS (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) and diazepam (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) prolonged the time spent in the light area. In the hole-board test, PQS (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) and diazepam (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly increased both head-dip counts and head-dip duration. Both PQS (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) and diazepam (2.5 mg/kg, p.o.) decreased the total fighting time in the isolation-induced aggressive test. Since PQS, in contrast to diazepam, had no effect on locomotion in these tests, its side-effect profile might be considered superior to the benzodiazepines. Thus, the present findings suggest that PQS might be a potential candidate for use as an anxiolytic drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiu-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Jing-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jin-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-Fu
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003624:Darkness; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008027:Light; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012503:Saponins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins; D003975:Diazepam