The anxiolytic effects of valtrate in rats involves changes of corticosterone levels.
Valtrate is a principle compound isolated from Valeriana jatamansi Jones, which is a Traditional Chinese Medicine used to treat various mood disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anxiolytic effects of valtrate in rats. The animals were orally administered valtrate (5, 10, and 20 g/kg daily) for 10 days and exposed to open field test (OFT) and elevated plus-maze (EPM). Then the corticosterone levels in the rat serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The valtrate (10 mg/kg, p.o.) exhibited the anxiolytic effect in rats by increasing the time and entry percentage into the open arms in the EPM and the number of central entries in the OFT. Valtrate (10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly reduced the corticosterone level in the rat serum. Taken together, these results suggest that the valtrate has anxiolytic activity in behavioral models that might be mediated via the function of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 6A Wangjing Central South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, China.
Shu-Ning
SN
Shi
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 6A Wangjing Central South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, China.
Jin-Li
JL
Shi
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 6A Wangjing Central South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, China.
Yong
Y
Liu
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 6A Wangjing Central South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, China.
Yan-Li
YL
Wang
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 6A Wangjing Central South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, China.
Chun-Guo
CG
Wang
School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, 6A Wangjing Central South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100102, China.
Wen-Hui
WH
Hou
Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 4A Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China.
Jian-You
JY
Guo