Anxiolytic-like effect of asiaticoside in mice

• Published in: Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior Vol. 85; no. 2; pp. 339 - 344
• Main Authors: Chen, Si Wei, Wang, Wen Juan, Li, Wei Jing, Wang, Rui, Li, Yu Lei, Huang, Yan Ni, Liang, Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology; Anxiolytic; Asiaticoside; Biological and medical sciences; Diazepam; Elevated plus-maze; Hole-board test; Light/dark box; Male; Maze Learning - drug effects; Medical sciences; Mice; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psycholeptics: tranquillizer, neuroleptic; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Triterpenes - pharmacology; Light/dark box; Hole-board test; Mice; Elevated plus-maze; Anxiolytic; Diazepam; Asiaticoside; Psychotropic; Rodentia; Hypnotic; Anticonvulsant; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Tranquillizer; Mouse; Animal; Light; Benzodiazepine derivatives; Illumination; Hole board test
• ISSN: 0091-3057; 1873-5177
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2006.08.017

The putative anxiolytic activity of asiaticoside was examined in male mice by using a number of experimental paradigms of anxiety, with diazepam being as a positive anxiolytic control. In the elevated plus-maze test, diazepam (1 and 2 mg/kg) or asiaticoside (5 or 10 mg/kg) increased the percentage of entries into open arms and of time spent on open arms. In the light/dark test, as with 1 mg/kg diazepam, asiaticoside (10 and 20 mg/kg) increased the time spent in the light area and the movement in the light area without altering the total locomotor activity of the animals. In the hole-board test, asiaticoside at 10 mg/kg significantly increased head-dipping counts and duration as well as diazepam (0.3 mg/kg). Thus, these findings indicated that asiaticoside exhibited an anxiolytic-like effect. Further studies will be required to assess the generality of present findings to other species and behavioural paradigms.