title: Pharmacological evaluation of Potentilla alba L. in mice: adaptogenic and central nervous system effects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Potentilla alba L. (Rosaceae) rhizomes have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and adaptogenic effects and are used for the treatment of diarrhea and intestinal colic. However, the data concerning the adaptogenic and central nervous system activities of P. alba are fragmentary.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of oral administration of dried P. alba extract on the swimming endurance, light/dark exploration, and open-field tests for mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mice were orally administered Rhodiola rosea extract (RR group); dry extract of P. alba at doses of 12, 36, or 72 mg/kg (groups: PA12, PA36, and PA72); or distilled water (control group) for 7 consecutive days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The swimming times of the RR, PA36, and PA72 groups were significantly longer than those of the control group. The administration of P. alba significantly increased the light time, latency time, and the number of rearings in a dose-dependent manner. In the open-field test, the P. alba extract at a dose of 12 mg/kg produced a significant increase in the frequency of head dipping and the number of squares crossed and a significant decrease in grooming compared with the control treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings demonstrate that P. alba extracts significantly increased swimming endurance time and have anxiolytic-like action with a predominant locomotor component.
authors.affiliation: Saint Petersburg Institute of Pharmacy, Saint Petersburg, Russia. alexs79@mail.ru
authors.forename: Alexander N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Shikov
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lazukina
authors.forename: Olga N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Pozharitskaya
authors.forename: Marina N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Makarova
authors.forename: Olga V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Golubeva
authors.forename: Valery G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Makarov
authors.forename: Georgy I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Djachuk
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006003:Glycogen / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017440:Photoperiod; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031987:Potentilla; D027343:Rhizome; D029771:Rhodiola; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019344:Lactic Acid; D006003:Glycogen