Anxiolytic property of hydro-alcohol extract of Lactuca sativa and its effect on behavioral activities of mice

Lactuca sativa, belonging to the Asteraceae family, is a leafy vegetable known for its medicinal properties. This study aimed to understand the mechanism of Lactuca sativa extract with respect to pharmacological action. We investigated the anxiolytic effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of leaves of Lactuca sativa on mice. The behav- ioral tests performed on mice models to assess anti-anxiety properties were： open field test （OFT）, elevated plus maze test （EPM）, elevated T maze test, and marble burying test. Increased locomotor activity and time spent in the ＂open-ann＂ were observed in extract fed group. Malondialdehyde （MDA） and nitrite levels were decreased, cata- lase and glutathione levels were increased in Lactuca sativa treated mice. The data obtained in the present study suggests that the extract of Lactuca sativa can afford significant protection against anxiolytic activity.

Behavioral Characteristics of Pharmacologically Selected Lines of Rats: Relevance to Depression

This brief review discusses the behavioral consequences of two pharmacologically selected lines of rats. Flinders Sensitive (FSL) and Flinders Resistant (FRL) Lines of rats were selected on the basis of differential hypothermic and behavioral responses to the anticholinesterase, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP). FSL rats are more sensitive to the hypothermic effects of cholinergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic agonists but less sensitive to the locomotor or stereotypic effects of dopamine agonists. FSL rats exhibit greater immobility in the forced swim test and reduced social interaction compared with FRL rats, but do not differ in saccharin intake, behavior in the elevated plus maze, or responses for rewarding brain self-stimulation. The exaggerated immobility and reduced social interaction are counteracted by chronic treatment with antidepressants. Because FSL rats were more sensitive to 5-HT1A receptor agonists, high (HDS) and low (LDS) 8-OH-DPATsensitive lines were selectively bred for differential hypothermic responses to the 5-HT1A receptor agonist, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT). HDS rats were also more sensitive to the hypothermic effects of oxotremorine, a cholinergic agonist, but selection for this response did not diverge with later selection. HDS rats exhibited greater immobility in the forced swim test than LDS rats and this correlated response could be seen early in selection (generation 3). HDS rats also showed reduced social interaction compared to LDS rats, but did not differ in behavior in the elevated plus maze. These findings confirm that selection for hypothermic responses to pharmacological agents do have behavioral consequences, notably the production of depressive-like phenotypes, which can be counteracted by chronic antidepressant treatment. Because increased 5-HT1A receptor sensitivity was common to both selected lines (FSL and HDS), neurobiological processes dependent on this receptor could contribute to the abnormal behaviors that manifest in these rat lines and thus suggesting a mechanism underlying depressive behaviors in humans. However, available human data are inconsistent with this hypothesis and suggest that other mechanisms underlie these behavioral abnormalities in HDS and FSL rats. These mechanisms as well as additional behavioral testing in these rat lines will be discussed.

紫果西番莲叶抗焦虑药效研究

目的:考察紫果西番莲叶醇提物及其3个分离部位即乙酸乙酯部位、水饱和正丁醇部位及其水部位的抗焦虑作用。方法:采用国际通用的高架十字迷宫焦虑动物模型,观察紫果西番莲叶醇提物及其分离部位对小鼠的行为的影响。结果:紫果西番莲叶醇提物在400 mg/kg,800 mg/kg时表现出了比较明显的抗焦虑作用,同时乙酸乙酯部位、水饱和正丁醇部位以及水部位在100 mg/kg,200 mg/kg,300 mg/kg时也都表现出了比较明显的抗焦虑作用。

复方抗焦虑胶囊对急性应激大鼠的抗焦虑作用及对大鼠脑内ERK/CREB信号通路和BDNF表达的影响

目的研究复方抗焦虑胶囊对急性应激大鼠的药效及其对大鼠脑皮层及海马ERK/CREB信号通路、脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)的影响。方法采用高架十字迷宫实验,观察了复方抗焦虑胶囊低、中、高剂量(0.75、1.5、3 g·kg^(-1))给药7d对急性应激大鼠行为的影响,采用Western blot免疫印迹法研究复方抗焦虑胶囊对ERK/CREB信号通路的影响,对急性应激大鼠脑皮层及海马BDNF表达的影响。结果高架十字迷宫实验显示,复方抗焦虑胶囊高剂量组可明显增加大鼠进入开臂时间的百分数(OT%)(P<0.05)和进入开臂次数的百分数(OE%)(P<0.05)。Western blot实验显示,复方抗焦虑胶囊中剂量组明显减少了海马中p-ERK1/2的表达(P<0.05);高剂量组明显减少了大鼠皮层和海马中p-ERK1/2和p-CREB的表达(P<0.05)。高剂量组明显增加了大鼠皮层及海马中BDNF的表达水平(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论复方抗焦虑胶囊在高架十字迷宫模型中具有抗焦虑作用,且其抗焦虑机制可能与影响ERK/CREB信号通路,增加BDNF表达有关系。

蜘蛛香抗焦虑复方的抗焦虑作用及其机制

目的研究蜘蛛香抗焦虑复方的药效及其与γ-氨基丁酸受体(GABA-R)作用的关系。方法采用高架十字迷宫、明暗箱、自主活动、尼可刹米致小鼠惊厥试验,观察了蜘蛛香抗焦虑复方低、中、高剂量(1.2、2.4、4.8 g/kg)ig给药10 d对小鼠行为的影响;另设对照组(给予生理盐水)和地西泮(2 mg/kg)阳性对照组。结果高架十字迷宫和明暗箱试验结果显示,蜘蛛香抗焦虑复方中、高剂量具显著的抗焦虑作用(P<0.05),并呈量效关系,这种抗焦虑作用可被氟马西尼所拮抗,小鼠自主活动试验结果显示,蜘蛛香抗焦虑复方各剂量对小鼠自主活动的次数无显著影响(P>0.05),提示无镇静作用,蜘蛛香抗焦虑复方各剂量对尼可刹米致小鼠惊厥的潜伏期及死亡率无显著影响(P>0.05)。结论蜘蛛香抗焦虑复方有显著抗焦虑作用,并可能是通过GABA-R发挥抗焦虑作用的,且该复方无镇静及抗惊厥作用。