Anxiolytic Effects of Acanthopanax senticosus HARMS Occur via Regulation of Autonomic Function and Activate Hippocampal BDNF–TrkB Signaling

Abstract

Mental stress, such as anxiety and conflict, causes physiological changes, such as changes in autonomic nervous activity and gastric ulcers. In addition, stress induces glucocorticoids and changes the hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression levels. We previously reported that Acanthopanax senticosus HARM (ASH) prevents stress-induced gastric ulcers. Thus, we investigated the potential anxiolytic effect and influence of ASH on the hippocampus BDNF-related protein in male Sprague-Dawley rats fed 1% and 5% ASH extract-containing food for one week using novelty suppressed feeding (NSF) and improved elevated beam walking (IEBW) tests. ASH treatment significantly decreased latency to eat in the NSF test and increased the time spent on the open arm in the IEBW test. ASH5% treatment showed a significant decrease in LFnu, indicative of sympathetic nervous activity, and a significant increase in HFnu, indicative of parasympathetic nervous activity, in the NSF test. In addition, ASH1% and ASH5% treatments significantly decreased LFnu and significantly increased HFnu in the IEBW test. ASH5% treatment significantly increased hippocampal BDNF protein expression in both Western blotting and immunohistochemistry experiments. Our findings suggest that anxiolytic effects of ASH occur via the regulation of autonomic function and increased hippocampal BDNF signaling.

Combination of syringaresinol–di–O–β-d-glucoside and chlorogenic acid shows behavioral pharmacological anxiolytic activity and activation of hippocampal BDNF–TrkB signaling

“…Therefore, ASH and Mix show partial anxiolytic effects similar to CLO in OFT. In a previous study, we demonstrated the anxiolytic effect of ASH in the IEBW test 16 . ASH extract administration extended staying time in the open arm and ameliorated the elevation of SNS activity and suppression of PNS activity in the IEBW test.…”

“…After 1-week acclimatization, rats were implanted the telemeter in the abdomen (see Supplementary Materials and Methods 1.1 for details). Based on the test food consumption in our previous study of the ASH extract 16 , we determined the dose of each test item (CHA[Sigma-Aldrich, C3878], 40 mg/kg; SYG, 32 mg/kg; Mix, a mixture of CHA and SYG) dissolved in distilled water. CLO (SEPAZON, Alfresa Pharma Co., Osaka, Japan) was administered at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg in 1 mL of distilled water.…”

“…On the behavioral test day, rats were administered 1 mL of each solution 0.5 (Cont, CHA, SYG, and Mix) or 2 h (CLO) before each behavioral test. In the OFT, we administered ASH as per the previous study 16 .…”

“…We then used the IEBW apparatus by installing a 2 × 4 timber (180 × 8.9 cm) 190 cm above the floor level. The apparatus included open (140 × 8.9 cm) and closed (40 × 8.9 × 28.5 cm) arms (see reference 16 and supplementary materials for details). Rats were placed on the tip of the open arm, then allowed to explore the area freely for 3 min.…”

Eleutheroside-b and e in Acanthopanax Senticosus has Anti-PRV Activity via an Enhanced Body Immune Response in Vivo

“…In the 1980s, AS was shown to enhance the immune-modulatory effect clinically. Scientists demonstrated that an ethanolic AS preparation caused a drastic increase in the absolute number of immunecompromised cells with a noticeable effect on T lymphocytes (predominantly helper cells) as well as cytotoxic and natural killer cells in healthy volunteers (Miyazaki et al, 2018;Zhou et al, 2018a;Zhou et al, 2018b).…”