title: Sedative Effect ofSophora flavescensand Matrine.
abstract: The present study investigated the sedative effects ofSophora flavescens (SF)and its bioactive compound, matrine through performing locomotor activity test and the electroencephalography (EEG) analysis in the rat. The underlying neural mechanism of their beneficial effects was determined by assessing c-Fos immunoreactivity and serotonin (5-HT) in the brain utilizing immunohistochemical method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed thatSFand matrine administration had an effect on normalization of caffeine-induced hyperactivity and promoting a shift toward non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. c-Fos-immunoreactivity and 5-HT level in the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO), a sleep promoting region, were increased in the bothSFand matrine-injected groups. In conclusion,SFand its bioactive compound, matrine alleviated caffeine-induced hyperactivity and promoted NREM sleep by activating VLPO neurons and modulating serotonergic transmission. It is suggested thatSFmight be a useful natural alternatives for hypnotic medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02435, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02435, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02435, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Daehyuk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul 05278, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02435, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Insop
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shim
keywords: Electroencephalography; Locomotor; Matrine; Sedative effect; Serotonin; Sophora flavescens