title: Koumine exhibits anxiolytic properties without inducing adverse neurological effects on functional observation battery, open-field and Vogel conflict tests in rodents.
abstract: Koumine, an active alkaloid of neurotoxic plant Gelsemium, has been focused on its therapeutic uses, especially in central nervous system. Nevertheless, less is known about the neurological effects of koumine, which hampers its potential therapeutic exploitation. Moreover, as the anxiolytic potential of Gelsemium has raised many critical issues, its active principles on the anxiolytic and other neurological effects need to be further investigated. Here, we used functional observation battery (FOB) of mice to systematically measure the neurological effects of koumine at the effective doses, and then further confirmed its anxiolytic properties in open-field test (OFT) of mice and Vogel conflict test (VCT) of rats. Koumine exhibited anxiolytic-like activities but did not affect other autonomic, neurological and physical functions in FOB. Furthermore, koumine released anxiolytic responses and anti-punishment action in a manner similar to diazepam in OFT and VCT, respectively. The results constitutes solid set of fundamental data further demonstrating anxiolytic properties of koumine at the therapeutic doses without inducing adverse neurological effects, which supports the perspectives for the development of safe and effective koumine medicine against pathological anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Fujian Center for Safety Evaluation of New Drug, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chao-Jie
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Fujian Center for Safety Evaluation of New Drug, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: Fujian Center for Safety Evaluation of New Drug, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Long-Hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacochemistry, College of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Fujian Center for Safety Evaluation of New Drug, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, Fujian, People's Republic of China. changxiyu@mail.fjmu.edu.cn.|Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, Fujian, People's Republic of China. changxiyu@mail.fjmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chang-Xi
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D031450:Gelsemium / Q000737:chemistry*; D026121:Indole Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; C515085:koumine
keywords: Anxiety; Functional observation battery; Gelsemium; Koumine; Open field test; Vogel conflict test