Characterization of the Anxiolytic Activity of Nunavik Rhodiola
                        rosea

Christian Cayer; Fida Ahmed; Vicky Filion; Ammar Saleem; Alain Cuerrier; Marc Allard; Guy Rochefort; Zul Merali; John T. Arnason

doi:10.1055/s-0033-1350709

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

Planta Med 2013; 79(15): 1385-1391
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1350709

Biological and Pharmacological Activity

Original Papers

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Characterization of the Anxiolytic Activity of Nunavik Rhodiola rosea

Christian Cayer

¹Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

²School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

³University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

,

Fida Ahmed

¹Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

,

Vicky Filion

¹Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

,

Ammar Saleem

¹Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

,

Alain Cuerrier

⁴Jardin botanique de Montréal, Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada

,

Marc Allard

⁵Nunavik Biosciences Inc., Montréal, Canada

,

Guy Rochefort

⁵Nunavik Biosciences Inc., Montréal, Canada

,

Zul Merali

²School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

³University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

⁶Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

,

John T. Arnason

¹Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Rhodiola rosea is a medicinal plant used by the indigenous Inuit people of Nunavik and Nunatsiavut, Eastern Canada, as a mental and physical rejuvenating agent. This traditional use led to the present investigation of R. rosea in the context of anxiety disorders. An alcohol extract of R. rosea roots was characterized phytochemically and orally administered for three consecutive days to Sprague-Dawley rats at 8 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, and 75 mg/kg body weight. The rats were subjected to three behavioral paradigms of anxiety, including the elevated plus maze, social interaction, and contextual conditioned emotional response tests. Rhodiola rosea showed dose-dependent anxiolytic activity in the elevated plus maze and conditioned emotional response tests, with moderate effects in the higher-anxiety SI test. The active dose varied according to the anxiety test. In order to elucidate a mechanism, the extract was further tested in an in vitro GABA_A-benzodiazepine receptor-binding assay, where it demonstrated low activity. This study provides the first comparative assessment of the anxiolytic activity of Nunavik R. rosea in several behaviour models and suggests that anxiolytic effects may be primarily mediated via pathways other than the GABA_A-benzodiazepine site of the GABA_A receptor.

Key words

Rhodiola rosea - Crassulaceae - anxiolytic - elevated plus maze - social interaction - conditioned emotional response - GABA_A-benzodiazepine receptor

Full Text

References

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