Anxiolytic-like Effects of Ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2 from Red Ginseng in the Elevated Plus-Maze Model

Abstract

The anxiolytic-like effects of red ginseng (RG, the steamed root of Panax ginseng, family Araliaceae), its saponin fraction, and its representative constituents, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2, were investigated in mice using the elevated plus-maze test. These agents significantly increased the time spent on the open arms and the number of open-arm entries. The anxiolytic-like activities of Rg3 and Rh2 were antagonized by flumazenil but not by WAY-100635. RG and its constituents, Rg3 and Rh2, may exert anxiolytic effects by antagonizing GABA/benzodiazepines.

Key words

Panax ginseng - Araliaceae - anxiety - red ginseng - ginsenoside Rg3 - ginsenoside Rh2

References

• 1 Kessler R C, McGonagle K A, Zhao S, Nelson C B, Hughes M, Eshleman S, Wittchen H U, Kendler K S. Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM‐III‐R psychiatric disorders in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey.  Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1994;  51 8-19
• 2 Lader M, Morton S. Benzodiazepine problems.  Br J Addict. 1991;  86 823-828
• 3 Meeks T W, Wetherell J L, Irwin M R, Redwine L S, Jeste D V. Complementary and alternative treatments for late-life depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance: a review of randomized controlled trials.  J Clin Psychiatry. 2007;  68 1461-1471
• 4 Nah S Y, Kim D H, Rhim H. Ginsenosides: are any of them candidates for drugs acting on the central nervous system?.  CNS Drug Rev. 2007;  13 381-404
• 5 Kitagawa I, Yoshikawa M, Yoshihara M, Hayashi T, Taniyama T. Chemical studies on crude drug precession. I. On the constituents of Ginseng radix rubura (I).  Yakugaku Zasshi. 1983;  103 612-622
• 6 Kim W Y, Kim J M, Han S B, Lee S K, Kim N D, Park M K, Kim C K, Park J H. Steaming of ginseng at high temperature enhances biological activity.  J Nat Prod. 2000;  63 1702-1704
• 7 Bhattacharya S K, Mitra S K. Anxiolytic activity of Panax ginseng roots: an experimental study.  J Ethnopharmacol. 1991;  34 87-92
• 8 Kim T W, Choi H J, Kim N J. Anxiolytic-like effects of saponin and polysaccharide fractions extracted from white and red ginsengs in the elevated plus-maze model.  J Ginseng Res. 2007;  31 217-221
• 9 Park J H, Cha H Y, Seo J J, Hong J T, Han K, Oh K W. Anxiolytic-like effects of ginseng in the elevated plus-maze model: comparison of red ginseng and sun ginseng.  Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2005;  29 895-900
• 10 Churchill J D, Gerson J L, Hinton K A, Mifek J L, Walter M J, Windlow C L, Deyo R A. The nootropic properties of ginseng saponin Rb1 are linked to effects on anxiety.  Integr Psycol Behav Sci. 2007;  37 178-187
• 11 Jung J W, Yoon B H, Oh H R, Ahn J H, Kim S Y, Park S Y, Ryu J H. Anxiolytic-like effects of Gastraodia elata and its phenolic constituents in mice.  Biol Pharm Bull. 2006;  29 261-265
• 12 Fugh-Berman A, Cott J M. Dietary supplements and natural products as psychotherapeutic agents.  Psychosom Med. 1999;  61 712-728
• 13 Carr M N, Bekku N, Yoshimura H. Identification of anxiolytic ingredients in ginseng root using the elevated plus-maze test in mice.  Eur J Pharmacol. 2006;  531 160-165
• 14 Wei X Y, Yang J Y, Wang J H, Wu C F. Anxiolytic effect of saponins from Panax quiquifolium in mice.  J Ethnopharmacol. 2007;  111 613-618
• 15 Cha H Y, Park J H, Hong J T, Yoo H S, Song S, Hwang B Y, Eun J S, Oh K W. Anxiolytic-like effects of ginsenosides on the elevated plus-maze model in mice.  Biol Pharm Bull. 2005;  28 1621-1625
• 16 Li J, Fish R L, Cook S M, Tattersall F D, Atack J R. Comparison of in vivo and ex vivo [³H]flumazenil binding assays to determine occupancy at the benzodiazepine binding site of rat brain GABA_A receptors.  Neuropharmacology. 2006;  51 168-172
• 17 Benditt D G, Fahy G J, Lurie K G, Sakaguchi S, Fabian W, Samniah N. Pharmacotherapy of neurally mediated syncope.  Circulation. 1999;  100 1242-1248
• 18 Trinh H T, Shin Y W, Han S J, Kim D H. Evaluation of antipruritic effects of red ginseng and its ingredients in mice.  Planta Med. 2008;  74 210-214