Anxiolytic-like Effects of Dichloromethane Extracts of Valerian (DEV) in Adult Male Wistar Rats
Anxiety is a common disorder that attacks many people in society and often accompanied by physiological sensations such as tachycardia, chest pain, shortness of breath, insensitivity and etc. The purpose of this study is to characterize the putative anxiolytic-like effects of DEV (dichloromethane extracts of valerian) using the elevated plus maze (EPM) in rats. DEV was dissolved in DMSO and orally administered at different doses to adult male wistar rats, 0.5, 1.5 and 3 hours before behavioral evaluation in an EPM respectively. Control rats were treated with an equal volume of DMSO. Single treatment of DEV (at 0.1,0.2. 0.3, and 0.4 g/kg) significantly increased time-spent and arm entries into open arms of EPM versus control groups (p<0.05).However, no changes in the locomotor activity ccured. This result suggests that DEV might prove to be an effective anxiolytic agent.
[1] S. Mora, R. Millan, H. Lungenstrass, G. Diaz-Veliz, J.A. Moran, M.
Herrera-Ruiz, and J. Tortoriello, The hydroalcoholic extract of Salvia
elegans induces anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in rats. J
Ethnopharmacol 106 (2006) 76-81.
[2] W.H. Peng, M.T. Hsieh, Y.S. Lee, Y.C. Lin, and J. Liao, Anxiolytic
effect of seed of Ziziphus jujuba in mouse models of anxiety. J
Ethnopharmacol 72 (2000) 435-41.
[3] A. Rex, E. Morgenstern, and H. Fink, Anxiolytic-like effects of kavakava
in the elevated plus maze test--a comparison with diazepam. Prog
Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 26 (2002) 855-60.
[4] F. Donath, S. Quispe, K. Diefenbach, A. Maurer, I. Fietze, and I. Roots,
Critical evaluation of the effect of valerian extract on sleep structure and
sleep quality. Pharmacopsychiatry 33 (2000) 47-53.
[5] B.R. Ballinger, New drugs. Hypnotics and anxiolytics. Bmj 300 (1990)
456-8.
[6] G. Beaubrun, and G.E. Gray, A review of herbal medicines for
psychiatric disorders. Psychiatr Serv 51 (2000) 1130-4.
[7] W. Hui-lian, Z. Dong-fang, L. Zhao-feng, L. Yang, L. Qian-rong, and
W. Yu-zhen, In vitro study on the genotoxicity of dichloromethane
extracts of valerian (DEV) in human endothelial ECV304 cells and the
effect of vitamins E and C in attenuating the DEV-induced DNA
damages. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 188 (2003) 36-41.
[8] H. Schulz, C. Stolz, and J. Muller, The effect of valerian extract on sleep
polygraphy in poor sleepers: a pilot study. Pharmacopsychiatry 27
(1994) 147-51.
[9] A. Degroot, S. Kashluba, and D. Treit, Septal GABAergic and
hippocampal cholinergic systems modulate anxiety in the plus-maze and
shock-probe tests. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 69 (2001) 391-9.
[10] S. Pellow, Anxiolytic and anxiogenic drug effects in a novel test of
anxiety: are exploratory models of anxiety in rodents valid? Methods
Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 8 (1986) 557-65.
[11] R.J. Rodgers, and N.J. Johnson, Factor analysis of spatiotemporal and
ethological measures in the murine elevated plus-maze test of anxiety.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav 52 (1995) 297-303.
[12] A. Backlund, and T. Moritz, Phylogenetic implications of an expanded
valepotriate distribution in the Valerianaceae, Elsevier, 1998, pp. 309-
335.
[13] A. Herrera-Arellano, G. Luna-Villegas, M.L. Cuevas-Uriostegui, L.
Alvarez, G. Vargas-Pineda, A. Zamilpa-Alvarez, and J. Tortoriello,
Polysomnographic evaluation of the hypnotic effect of Valeriana edulis
standardized extract in patients suffering from insomnia, 2001, pp. 695-
9.
[14] S. Pellow, P. Chopin, S.E. File, and M. Briley, Validation of open:closed
arm entries in an elevated plus-maze as a measure of anxiety in the rat. J
Neurosci Methods 14 (1985) 149-67.
[15] T. Umezu, Effects of psychoactive drugs in the Vogel conflict test in
mice. Jpn J Pharmacol 80 (1999) 111-8.
[16] G. Balderer, and A.A. Borbely, Effect of valerian on human sleep.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) 87 (1985) 406-9.
[17] P.J. Houghton, The scientific basis for the reputed activity of Valerian. J
Pharm Pharmacol 51 (1999) 505-12.
[18] K. Low, F. Crestani, R. Keist, D. Benke, I. Brunig, J.A. Benson, J.M.
Fritschy, T. Rulicke, H. Bluethmann, H. Mohler, and U. Rudolph,
Molecular and neuronal substrate for the selective attenuation of anxiety.
Science 290 (2000) 131-4.
[19] C.S. Yuan, S. Mehendale, Y. Xiao, H.H. Aung, J.T. Xie, and M.K. Ang-
Lee, The gamma-aminobutyric acidergic effects of valerian and
valerenic acid on rat brainstem neuronal activity. Anesth Analg 98
(2004) 353-8, table of contents.
[20] C. Cavadas, I. Araujo, M.D. Cotrim, T. Amaral, A.P. Cunha, T. Macedo,
and C.F. Ribeiro, In vitro study on the interaction of Valeriana
officinalis L. extracts and their amino acids on GABAA receptor in rat
brain. Arzneimittelforschung 45 (1995) 753-5.
[21] M.S. Santos, F. Ferreira, A.P. Cunha, A.P. Carvalho, and T. Macedo, An
aqueous extract of valerian influences the transport of GABA in
synaptosomes. Planta Med 60 (1994) 278-9.
[22] M.S. Santos, F. Ferreira, A.P. Cunha, A.P. Carvalho, C.F. Ribeiro, and
T. Macedo, Synaptosomal GABA release as influenced by valerian root
extract--involvement of the GABA carrier. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther
327 (1994) 220-31.
[23] E. Riedel, R. Hansel, and G. Ehrke, [Inhibition of gamma-Aminobutyric
Acid Catabolism by Valerenic Acid Derivatives.]. Planta Med 46 (1982)
219-220.
[24] M. Chebib, and G.A. Johnston, The 'ABC' of GABA receptors: a brief
review. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 26 (1999) 937-40.
[25] R. Oksztel, H. Car, and K. Wisniewski, Muscimol changes hypoxiainduced
impairment of behavior in rats. Pol J Pharmacol 54 (2002) 423-
31.
[26] A. Plaznik, W. Kostowski, and R. Stefanski, Limbic mechanisms of
anxiolytics acting on 5-HT receptors. Pol J Pharmacol 46 (1994) 473-7.
[27] H. Sienkiewicz-Jarosz, J. Szyndler, A.I. Czlonkowska, M.
Siemiatkowski, P. Maciejak, A. Wislowska, M. Zienowicz, M. Lehner,
D. Turzynska, A. Bidzinski, and A. Plaznik, Rat behavior in two models
of anxiety and brain (3H)muscimol binding: pharmacological,
correlation, and multifactor analysis. Behav Brain Res 145 (2003) 17-22.
[28] R. Stefanski, W. Palejko, A. Bidzinski, W. Kostowski, and A. Plaznik,
Serotonergic innervation of the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens
septi and the anxiolytic-like action of midazolam and 5-HT1A receptor
agonists. Neuropharmacology 32 (1993) 977-85.
[1] S. Mora, R. Millan, H. Lungenstrass, G. Diaz-Veliz, J.A. Moran, M.
Herrera-Ruiz, and J. Tortoriello, The hydroalcoholic extract of Salvia
elegans induces anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in rats. J
Ethnopharmacol 106 (2006) 76-81.
[2] W.H. Peng, M.T. Hsieh, Y.S. Lee, Y.C. Lin, and J. Liao, Anxiolytic
effect of seed of Ziziphus jujuba in mouse models of anxiety. J
Ethnopharmacol 72 (2000) 435-41.
[3] A. Rex, E. Morgenstern, and H. Fink, Anxiolytic-like effects of kavakava
in the elevated plus maze test--a comparison with diazepam. Prog
Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 26 (2002) 855-60.
[4] F. Donath, S. Quispe, K. Diefenbach, A. Maurer, I. Fietze, and I. Roots,
Critical evaluation of the effect of valerian extract on sleep structure and
sleep quality. Pharmacopsychiatry 33 (2000) 47-53.
[5] B.R. Ballinger, New drugs. Hypnotics and anxiolytics. Bmj 300 (1990)
456-8.
[6] G. Beaubrun, and G.E. Gray, A review of herbal medicines for
psychiatric disorders. Psychiatr Serv 51 (2000) 1130-4.
[7] W. Hui-lian, Z. Dong-fang, L. Zhao-feng, L. Yang, L. Qian-rong, and
W. Yu-zhen, In vitro study on the genotoxicity of dichloromethane
extracts of valerian (DEV) in human endothelial ECV304 cells and the
effect of vitamins E and C in attenuating the DEV-induced DNA
damages. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 188 (2003) 36-41.
[8] H. Schulz, C. Stolz, and J. Muller, The effect of valerian extract on sleep
polygraphy in poor sleepers: a pilot study. Pharmacopsychiatry 27
(1994) 147-51.
[9] A. Degroot, S. Kashluba, and D. Treit, Septal GABAergic and
hippocampal cholinergic systems modulate anxiety in the plus-maze and
shock-probe tests. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 69 (2001) 391-9.
[10] S. Pellow, Anxiolytic and anxiogenic drug effects in a novel test of
anxiety: are exploratory models of anxiety in rodents valid? Methods
Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 8 (1986) 557-65.
[11] R.J. Rodgers, and N.J. Johnson, Factor analysis of spatiotemporal and
ethological measures in the murine elevated plus-maze test of anxiety.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav 52 (1995) 297-303.
[12] A. Backlund, and T. Moritz, Phylogenetic implications of an expanded
valepotriate distribution in the Valerianaceae, Elsevier, 1998, pp. 309-
335.
[13] A. Herrera-Arellano, G. Luna-Villegas, M.L. Cuevas-Uriostegui, L.
Alvarez, G. Vargas-Pineda, A. Zamilpa-Alvarez, and J. Tortoriello,
Polysomnographic evaluation of the hypnotic effect of Valeriana edulis
standardized extract in patients suffering from insomnia, 2001, pp. 695-
9.
[14] S. Pellow, P. Chopin, S.E. File, and M. Briley, Validation of open:closed
arm entries in an elevated plus-maze as a measure of anxiety in the rat. J
Neurosci Methods 14 (1985) 149-67.
[15] T. Umezu, Effects of psychoactive drugs in the Vogel conflict test in
mice. Jpn J Pharmacol 80 (1999) 111-8.
[16] G. Balderer, and A.A. Borbely, Effect of valerian on human sleep.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) 87 (1985) 406-9.
[17] P.J. Houghton, The scientific basis for the reputed activity of Valerian. J
Pharm Pharmacol 51 (1999) 505-12.
[18] K. Low, F. Crestani, R. Keist, D. Benke, I. Brunig, J.A. Benson, J.M.
Fritschy, T. Rulicke, H. Bluethmann, H. Mohler, and U. Rudolph,
Molecular and neuronal substrate for the selective attenuation of anxiety.
Science 290 (2000) 131-4.
[19] C.S. Yuan, S. Mehendale, Y. Xiao, H.H. Aung, J.T. Xie, and M.K. Ang-
Lee, The gamma-aminobutyric acidergic effects of valerian and
valerenic acid on rat brainstem neuronal activity. Anesth Analg 98
(2004) 353-8, table of contents.
[20] C. Cavadas, I. Araujo, M.D. Cotrim, T. Amaral, A.P. Cunha, T. Macedo,
and C.F. Ribeiro, In vitro study on the interaction of Valeriana
officinalis L. extracts and their amino acids on GABAA receptor in rat
brain. Arzneimittelforschung 45 (1995) 753-5.
[21] M.S. Santos, F. Ferreira, A.P. Cunha, A.P. Carvalho, and T. Macedo, An
aqueous extract of valerian influences the transport of GABA in
synaptosomes. Planta Med 60 (1994) 278-9.
[22] M.S. Santos, F. Ferreira, A.P. Cunha, A.P. Carvalho, C.F. Ribeiro, and
T. Macedo, Synaptosomal GABA release as influenced by valerian root
extract--involvement of the GABA carrier. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther
327 (1994) 220-31.
[23] E. Riedel, R. Hansel, and G. Ehrke, [Inhibition of gamma-Aminobutyric
Acid Catabolism by Valerenic Acid Derivatives.]. Planta Med 46 (1982)
219-220.
[24] M. Chebib, and G.A. Johnston, The 'ABC' of GABA receptors: a brief
review. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 26 (1999) 937-40.
[25] R. Oksztel, H. Car, and K. Wisniewski, Muscimol changes hypoxiainduced
impairment of behavior in rats. Pol J Pharmacol 54 (2002) 423-
31.
[26] A. Plaznik, W. Kostowski, and R. Stefanski, Limbic mechanisms of
anxiolytics acting on 5-HT receptors. Pol J Pharmacol 46 (1994) 473-7.
[27] H. Sienkiewicz-Jarosz, J. Szyndler, A.I. Czlonkowska, M.
Siemiatkowski, P. Maciejak, A. Wislowska, M. Zienowicz, M. Lehner,
D. Turzynska, A. Bidzinski, and A. Plaznik, Rat behavior in two models
of anxiety and brain (3H)muscimol binding: pharmacological,
correlation, and multifactor analysis. Behav Brain Res 145 (2003) 17-22.
[28] R. Stefanski, W. Palejko, A. Bidzinski, W. Kostowski, and A. Plaznik,
Serotonergic innervation of the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens
septi and the anxiolytic-like action of midazolam and 5-HT1A receptor
agonists. Neuropharmacology 32 (1993) 977-85.
@article{"International Journal of Medical, Medicine and Health Sciences:63664", author = "Hadjikhani R.", title = "Anxiolytic-like Effects of Dichloromethane Extracts of Valerian (DEV) in Adult Male Wistar Rats", abstract = "Anxiety is a common disorder that attacks many people in society and often accompanied by physiological sensations such as tachycardia, chest pain, shortness of breath, insensitivity and etc. The purpose of this study is to characterize the putative anxiolytic-like effects of DEV (dichloromethane extracts of valerian) using the elevated plus maze (EPM) in rats. DEV was dissolved in DMSO and orally administered at different doses to adult male wistar rats, 0.5, 1.5 and 3 hours before behavioral evaluation in an EPM respectively. Control rats were treated with an equal volume of DMSO. Single treatment of DEV (at 0.1,0.2. 0.3, and 0.4 g/kg) significantly increased time-spent and arm entries into open arms of EPM versus control groups (p", keywords = "Anxiety, Dichloromethane extracts, Valerian, Rat", volume = "3", number = "7", pages = "165-5", }
