Anxiolytic-like effects of sinapic acid in mice.
Sinapic acid is a phenylpropanoid compound and is found in various herbal materials and high-bran cereals. With the exception of its antioxidant activities, the pharmacological properties of sinapic acid have been rarely reported. The purpose of this study was to characterize the putative anxiolytic-like properties of sinapic acid using an elevated plus-maze (EPM) and hole-board test. Control mice were orally treated with an equal volume of vehicle (10% Tween 80 solution), and positive control mice were treated with diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Sinapic acid (4 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly increased the percentages of time spent in the open arms of the EPM test (P<0.05). In the hole-board test, sinapic acid also significantly increased the number of head-dips at 4 mg/kg (P<0.05). In addition, the anxiolytic-like properties of sinapic acid examined in the EPM test were blocked by flumazenil or bicuculline, which are GABA(A) antagonists. Moreover, sinapic acid markedly potentiated GABA current in single cortical neurons in a dose-dependant manner, and reactive I(GABA) increased to 1.8 times at 1 muM of sinapic acid. These results suggested that sinapic acid is a prominent anxiolytic agent, and that its anxiolytic-like effects are mediated via GABA(A) receptors and potentiating Cl(-) currents.
Yoon
Byung Hoon
BH
Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science and Kyung Hee East-West Pharmaceutical Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Hoeki-dong, Dongdaemoon-ku, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
Jung
Ji Wook
JW
Lee
Jong-Ju
JJ
Cho
Young-Wuk
YW
Jang
Choon-Gon
CG
Jin
Changbae
C
Oh
Tae Hwan
TH
Ryu
Jong Hoon
JH
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D018118:Chloride Channels; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D018757:GABA Modulators; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D005442:Flumazenil; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C073734:sinapinic acid; C090413:N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide; D003975:Diazepam; D001640:Bicuculline