title: Anxiolytic-like effects of sanjoinine A isolated from Zizyphi Spinosi Semen: possible involvement of GABAergic transmission.
abstract: This experiment was performed to investigate the anxiolytic-like effects of sanjoinine A, one of the major alkaloid compounds in Zizyphi Spinosi Semen (ZSS), by using experimental paradigms of anxiety in comparison with a known anxiolytic, diazepam. Sanjoinine A (2.0 mg/kg) increased the percentage of time spent on the open arms and the number of open arms entries in the elevated plus-maze test, increased the number of head dips in the hole-board test, and increased the percentage of time spent in the center zone and the center zone locomotor distance in the open field box experiment. However, sanjoinine A (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg) had no effect on locomotor activity, while diazepam (2.0 mg/kg) significantly reduced locomotor activity. Sanjoinine A (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg) did not influence the grip force in the grip strength meter test either. Molecular experiments showed that sanjoinine A (2.0, 5.0 microM) increased chloride influx in cultured cerebellar granule cells. In addition, sanjoinine A (5.0 microM) treatment resulted in over-expression of alpha- and gamma-subunits of GABA(A) receptors and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65/67) in cultured cerebellar granule cells. It is concluded that sanjoinine A may have anxiolytic-like effects in the elevated plus-maze, hole-board test and open field test, and these effects may be mediated by GABAergic transmission.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Huishan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jae Soon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Eun
authors.forename: Rihua
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin-Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Myung-Koo
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ki-Wan
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018737:Hand Strength; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D031957:Ziziphus / Q000737:chemistry*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C523394:Sanjoinine A; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid