title: Anxiolytic effects of herbal ethanol extract from Gynostemma pentaphyllum in mice after exposure to chronic stress.
abstract: In this study, the effects of herbal ethanol extracts of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP-EX), on chronic electric footshock (EF) stress-induced anxiety disorders were investigated in mice, which were orally treated with GP-EX (30 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) once a day for 14 days, followed by exposure to EF stress (2 mA, with an interval and duration of 10 s for 3 min). After the final exposure to EF stress, the elevated plus-maze and marble burying tests were performed, and the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, the serum levels of corticosterone, and the expression of c-Fos in the paraventricular nuclei (PVN) were determined. Treatment with GP-EX (30 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) significantly recovered the number of entries into open arms and time spent on open arms, which was reduced by chronic EF stress. GP-EX (30 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) also reduced the number of marbles buried, which was increased by chronic EF stress. In addition, electric EF stress significantly decreased the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, which was recovered by treatment with GP-EX (30 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg). The serum levels of corticosterone, which were markedly increased by chronic EF stress, were reduced by treatment with GP-EX (30 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg). Chronic EF stress-induced increases in c-Fos expression were also markedly reduced by GP-EX (30 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) in the PVN. These results suggest that GP-EX shows anxiolytic functions, determined by the elevated plus-maze and marble burying tests, which are mediated by modulating the activity of dopamine and serotonin neurons as well as the expression of c-Fos in the brain, and the serum levels of corticosterone. Clinical trials of herbal GP-EX and its bioactive components need further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Research Center for Bioresource and Health, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ting Ting
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Keon Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Seung Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bang Yeon
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Chong Kil
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myung Koo
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D029774:Gynostemma / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol; D004298:Dopamine; D003345:Corticosterone