title: Identification of antidepressant-like ingredients in ginseng root (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) using a menopausal depressive-like state in female mice: participation of 5-HT2A receptors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After reports of adverse effects with hormone replacement therapy, such as reproductive and breast cancer and coronary heart disease, much attention has been given to the development of new remedies to alleviate menopausal depression in women, but methods for their preclinical evaluation have not been clarified. We previously developed a procedure to predict the drug effect on the menopausal depressive-like state in female mice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We attempted to identify psychoactive components from ginseng root, one of the earliest known materials for menopausal disorder, and to clarify the possible mechanism involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  As an index of a depressive-like state, we used the prolongation of immobility time induced by an ovariectomy during the forced swimming test. Chronic treatment with the candidate substance began the day after ovariectomy and continued for 14 days. To examine whether the 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonist ritanserin antagonized the antidepressant-like effect of ginsenoside Rb(1), ritanserin was given as pretreatment 15 min before the daily administration of ginsenoside Rb(1) and the antagonistic effect was compared with ginsenoside Rb(1) alone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ginsenoside Rb(1) and compound K were active ingredients that dose-dependently prevented the prolongation of immobility time induced by ovariectomy. Co-administration of ritanserin, a 5-HT(2A)-receptor antagonist, antagonized the effect of ginsenoside Rb(1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that ginsenoside Rb(1) and its metabolite, compound K, are antidepressant-like components of the ginseng root, and that 5-HT(2A) receptors may play an important role in mediating the antidepressant-like effect of ginsenoside Rb(1).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D008593:Menopause; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010052:Ovariectomy; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016713:Ritanserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D036145:Ginsenosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D016713:Ritanserin; C442759:ginsenoside Rb1