title: Anxiolytic-like effects of sinapic acid in mice.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Byung Hoon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Ji Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jong-Ju
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Wuk
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Choon-Gon
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Changbae
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Tae Hwan
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jong Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ryu
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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