Saikokaryukotsuboreito, a herbal medicine, prevents chronic stress-induced anxiety in rats: comparison with diazepam.
Anxiety is frequently observed in several neuropsychiatric disorders, and stress is thought to precipitate or exacerbate anxiety. In this study, the anxiolytic action of a herbal medicine, saikokaryukotsuboreito, (SRBT) was examined in normal healthy rats using the elevated plus-maze test. Moreover, the improving effect of SRBT on chronic stress-induced anxiety was also examined. Single administration of SRBT did not have anxiolytic action in normal rats. Repeated administration of SRBT significantly improved chronic stress-induced anxiety. On the other hand, single administration of a typical anxiolytic, diazepam, had anxiolytic action in normal rats but repeated administration did not improve chronic stress-induced anxiety. These results suggest that SRBT does not have anxiolytic activity equivalent to that of diazepam but has potency for improving stress-related anxiety. This finding provides information important for the treatment of anxiety.
Mizoguchi
Kazushige
K
Department of Geriatric Medicine, National Institute for Longevity Sciences, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 36-3 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi, 474-8522, Japan. k-mizo@nils.go.jp
Ikeda
Ryuji
R
Shoji
Hirotaka
H
Tanaka
Yayoi
Y
Jin
Xue-Long
XL
Kase
Yoshio
Y
Takeda
Shuichi
S
Maruyama
Wakako
W
Tabira
Takeshi
T
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C095444:saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to; D003975:Diazepam