Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-112461
Nunavik Rhodiola rosea Attenuates Expression of Fear-Potentiated Startle
Publication History
received 30 December 2015
revised 14 May 2016
accepted 06 July 2016
Publication Date:
20 January 2017 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/10.1055-s-00032099/201604/lookinside/thumbnails/10-1055-s-0042-112461_pmleb0071-1.jpg)
Abstract
Rhodiola rosea is a plant with adaptogenic qualities used by Inuit populations of Nunavik, Quebec (Canada) for general mental and physical rejuvenation. Previous studies have demonstrated that the Canadian populations of R. rosea significantly attenuate the expression of learned fear and anxiety-like behaviors in rodent models. In order to further characterize the anxiolytic activity of Nunavik R. rosea, experiments were conducted to assess the effects of oral administration of the plant extract on both the fear-potentiated startle response and corticosterone levels. Findings suggest that oral administration of R. rosea ethanolic extract (75 mg/kg) significantly attenuated fear-potentiated startle, but did not produce any effects on stress-induced secretion of corticosterone.
Key words
Rhodiola rosea - Crassulaceae - anxiolytic - anxiety - PTSD - glucocorticoid - neuropharmacology - behavior-
References
- 1 Alm T. Ethnobotany of Rhodiola rosea (Crassulaceae) in Norway. SIDA Contrib Bot 2004; 21: 321-344
- 2 Khanum F, Bawa A, Singh B. Rhodiola rosea: A versatile adaptogen. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Sav 2005; 4: 55-62
- 3 Panossian A, Wikman G, Sarris J. Rosenroot (Rhodiola rosea): traditional use, chemical composition, pharmacology, and clinical efficacy. Phytomedicine 2010; 17: 481-493
- 4 Panossian A, Wagner H. Stimulating effect of adaptogens: an overview with particular reference to their efficacy following single dose administration. Phytother Res 2005; 19: 819-838
- 5 Darbinyan V, Aslanyan G, Amroyan E, Gabrielyan E, Malmström C, Panossian A. Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosea L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Nor J Psychiatry 2007; 61: 2343-2348
- 6 Hung S, Perry R, Ernst E. The effectiveness and efficacy of Rhodiola rosea L.: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Phytomedicine 2011; 18: 235-244
- 7 Mattioli L, Perfumi M. Rhodiola rosea L. extract reduces stress and CRF-induced anorexia in rats. J Psychopharmacol 2007; 21: 742-750
- 8 Punja S, Shamseer L, Olson K, Vohra S. Rhodiola rosea for mental and physical fatigue in nursing students: a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One 2014; 9: e108416
- 9 Spasov AA, Wikman GK, Mandrikov VB, Mironova IA, Neumoin VV. A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of the stimulating and adaptogenic effect of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 on the fatigue of students caused by stress during an examination period with a repeated low-dose regimen. Phytomedicine 2000; 7: 85-89
- 10 Cayer C, Ahmed F, Filion V, Saleem A, Cuerrier A, Allard M, Rochefort G, Merali Z, Arnason JT. Characterization of the anxiolytic activity of Nunavik Rhodiola rosea . Planta Med 2013; 79: 1385-1391
- 11 Davis M, Falls W, Campeau S, Kim M. Fear-potentiated startle: a neural and pharmacological analysis. Behav Brain Res 1993; 58: 175-198
- 12 Matheson GK, Gage D, White G, Dixon V, Gipson D. A comparison of the effects of buspirone and diazepam on plasma corticosterone levels in rat. Neuropharmacology 1988; 27: 823-830
- 13 Peričić D, Lakić N, Manew H. Effect of diazepam on corticosterone levels. Psychopharmacology 1984; 83: 79-81
- 14 Olsson EM, von Schéele B, Panossian AG. A randomized double-blind placebo controlled parallel group study of SHR-5 extract of Rhodiola rosea roots as treatment for patients with stress related fatigue. Planta Med 2009; 74: 105-112
- 15 Panossian A, Wikman G. Evidence-based efficacy of adaptogens in fatigue, and molecular mechanisms related to their stress-protective activity. Curr Clin Pharmacol 2009; 4: 198-219
- 16 Darbinyan V, Kteyan A, Panossian A, Gabrielian E, Wikman G, Wagner H. Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue – a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty. Phytomedicine 2000; 7: 365-371
- 17 Lishmanov Y, Krylatov A, Maslov L, Naryzhnaya N, Zamotrinskii A. The effect of extract from Rhodiola rosea on the level of inducible HSP-70 in the myocardium during stress. Bull Exp Bio Med 1996; 121: 235-237
- 18 Wiegant F, Surinova S, Ytsma E, Langelaar-Makkinje M, Wikman G, Post JA. Plant adaptogens increase lifespan and stress resistance in C. elegans . Biogerentology 2009; 10: 27-42
- 19 Ahmed F. Rhodiola rosea L. – An Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy in the Context of a neurological Disorder, Alzheimer Disease [Dissertation]. Ottawa: University of Ottawa; 2015
- 20 Duvarci S, Pare D. Amygdala microcircuits controlling learned fear. Neuron 2014; 82: 966-980
- 21 Pare D, Royer S, Smith Y, Lang E. Contextual inhibitory gating of impulse traffic in the intra-amygdaloid network. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2003; 985: 247-254
- 22 Chhatwal J, Myers K, Ressler K, Davis M. Regulation of gephyrin and GABAa receptor binding within the amygdala after fear acquisition and extinction. J Neurosci 2005; 25: 502-506
- 23 Shaban H, Humeau Y, Herry C, Cassasus G, Shigemoto R, Ciocchi S, Barbieri S, van der Putten H, Kaupmann K, Bettler B, Lüthi A. Generalization of amygdala LTP and conditioned fear in the absence of presynaptic inhibition. Nat Neurosci 2006; 9: 1028-1035
- 24 Watanabe Y, Ikegaya Y, Saito H, Abe K. Roles of GABAa, NDMA and muscarinic receptors in the induction of long-term potentiation in the medial and lateral amygdala in vitro . Neurosci Res 1995; 21: 317-322
- 25 Miller NS, Gold MS. Benzodiazepines: a major problem. Introduction. J Subst Abuse Treat 1991; 8: 3-7
- 26 Rooney S, Kelly G, Bamford L, Sloan D, OʼConnor JJ. Co-abuse of opiates and benzodiazepines. Ir J Med Sci 1999; 168: 36-41
- 27 Wafford K. GABAa receptor subtypes: any clues to the mechanism of benzodiazepine dependence?. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2005; 5: 47-52
- 28 Van Dierman D, Marston A, Bravo J, Reist M, Carrupt PA, Hostettman K. Monoamine oxidase inhibition by Rhodiola rosea L. roots. J Ethnopharmacol 2009; 122: 397-401
- 29 Panossian A, Hambartsumyan M, Hovanissian A, Wikman G. The adaptogens rhodiola and schizandra modify the response to immobilization stress in rabbits by suppressing the increase of phosphorylated stress-activated protein kinase, nitric oxide, and cortisol. Drug Target Insights 2007; 2: 39-54
- 30 Larhammar D, Salaneck E. Molecular evolution of NPY receptor subtypes. Neuropeptides 2004; 38: 141-151