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An antidepressant effect of Sho‐ju‐sen, a Japanese herbal medicine, assessed by learned helplessness model in mice
Author(s) -
Kuribara Hisashi,
Tomioka Hideo,
Takahashi Reiko,
Onozato Kazumi,
Murohashi Naomi,
Numajiri Tomomi,
Iwata Hisato,
Koya Sakuji
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.1412
Subject(s) - ginseng , learned helplessness , imipramine , diazepam , traditional medicine , medicine , antidepressant , pharmacology , clinical psychology , alternative medicine , pathology , hippocampus
The antidepressant effect of Sho‐ju‐sen, a Japanese herbal medicine composed of extracts of three herbs; kumazasa leaf ( Sasa Kurinensis Makino et Sibata), Japanese red pine leaf ( Pinus densiora Sieb. et Zucc) and ginseng radix ( Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), was assessed using a learned helplessness model in mice. The learned helplessness was produced by presenting 120 unavoidable/inescapable shocks for 3 days to the mouse in a shuttle box, and the avoidance training was carried out on day 4. Compared with the control group given tap water, free consumption of Sho‐ju‐sen (1%, 3% and 10%) for 21 days resulted in a signicant amelioration of the response rate at 1% and 3%, and both the response rate and % avoidance at 10%. Although Sho‐ju‐sen (10%) caused no signicant effect following the 7‐day intake, it ameliorated the response rate following the 14‐day intake. The extract of Japanese red pine leaf, but not kumazasa leaf or ginseng radix, mildly improved the response rate. Learned helplessness was signicantly and dose‐dependently reduced by imipramine (10 and 30 mg/kg i.p.), while only mildly by diazepam (1 mg/kg p.o.). These results suggest that a long‐term consumption of Sho‐ju‐sen is effective for the amelioration of depression, and the effectiveness is derived mainly from the extract of Japanese red pine leaf. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.