Schizandra chinensis and Scutellaria baicalensis counter stress behaviors in mice.
The individual and combined antistress effects of the fruit of Schizandra chinensis and the radix of Scutellaria baicalensis were evaluated using a mouse acute stress model. Stress consisted of immobilization and electric foot shocks over 5 days. Mice were treated with herbal extracts for 7 days before exposing the animals to stress. Before each stressor presentation, the mice were treated with each herbal extract. Reduced locomotor activity and the percentage of time spent in the open arms of an elevated plus-maze under stress were recovered by treatment with the extract containing equal amounts of S. chinensis and S. baicalensis (CB11) at 200 and 400 mg/kg (p < 0.05). The effects of CB11 were greater than the effects of S. chinensis or S. baicalensis alone. CB11 treatment (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduced serum corticosterone levels (p < 0.05). Spleen size and the serum interleukin-2 level decreases induced by stress were prevented by CB11 (200 mg/kg) (p < 0.05). Taken together, these results suggest that S. chinensis and S. baicalensis in equal amounts could be used to treat stress disorders, in part, by preventing corticosterone and IL-2 level changes and ameliorating stress-related behavior parameters.
Lee
Seungjoo
S
Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science and East-West Pharmaceutical Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoeki-dong, Dongdeamoon-ku, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
Kim
Dong Hyun
DH
Jung
Ji Wook
JW
Oh
Ju Hee
JH
Park
Ho Jae
HJ
Park
Chan
C
Huh
Youngbuhm
Y
Cheong
Jae Hoon
JH
Oh
Tae Hwan
TH
Ryu
Jong Hoon
JH
D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D032141:Schisandra; D031364:Scutellaria baicalensis; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D007376:Interleukin-2; D010936:Plant Extracts; C499814:Scutellaria baicalensis extract; D003345:Corticosterone