title: Evaluation of the anxiolytic properties of tetrahydropalmatine, a Corydalis yanhusuo compound, in the male Sprague-Dawley rat.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the anxiolytic effects of tetrahydropalmatine (THP) and its potential interaction with the benzodiazepine binding site on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor in the male Sprague-Dawley rat. Tetrahydropalmatine (THP), an active component isolated from the Chinese herbal plant Corydalis yanhusuo, is used in Asia for its analgesic, sedative, and hypnotic properties during herbal therapy. Fifty-five rats were assigned to 1 of 5 groups with 11 rats per group: 1) control (vehicle), 2) THP, 3) midazolam, 4) midazolam with THP, and 5) flumazenil with THP. In this study, the elevated plus-maze measured the behavioral components of anxiety and motor movements. The data were analyzed using a 2-tailed multivariate analysis of variance to determine if a significant difference existed followed by the least significant difference post hoc test. The findings suggest that THP, 25 mg/kg, given via intraperitoneal injection, results in significant anxiolysis and decreased motor movements. Furthermore, flumazenil, 3 mg/kg, does not fully antagonize the effects of THP.
authors.affiliation: US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing, Brooke Army Medical Center, Sam Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Henkes
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.forename: Orin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monroe
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Legaspi
authors.forename: Joann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: LeDoux
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haese
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCall
authors.forename: Arthur Don
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Ceremuga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031311:Corydalis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018757:GABA Modulators; D005442:Flumazenil; D008874:Midazolam