TY - JOUR
T1 - Korean Red Ginseng prevents posttraumatic stress disorder–triggered depression-like behaviors in rats via activation of the serotonergic system
AU - Lee, Bombi
AU - Sur, Bongjun
AU - Lee, Hyejung
AU - Oh, Seikwan
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by a grant from the Korean Society of Ginseng and the Korean Ginseng Cooperation (2017) . Appendix A
Funding Information:
This research was supported by a grant from the Korean Society of Ginseng and the Korean Ginseng Cooperation (2017).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019
PY - 2020/7
Y1 - 2020/7
N2 - Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental disorder induced by traumatic stress and often accompanied by depression and/or anxiety, may involve an imbalance in the neurotransmitters associated with the fear response. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has long been used as a traditional medicine and is known to be involved in a variety of pharmacological activities. We used the open field test and forced swimming test to examine the effects of KRG on the depression-like response of rats after exposure to single prolonged stress (SPS), leading to activation of the serotonergic system. Methods: Male rats received KRG (30, 50, and 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) once daily for 14 days after exposure to SPS. Results: Daily KRG administration significantly improved depression-like behaviors in the forced swimming test, increased the number of lines crossed and time spent in the central zone in the open field test, and decreased freezing behavior in contextual and cued fear conditioning. KRG treatment attenuated SPS-induced decreases in serotonin (5-HT) tissue concentrations in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. The increased 5-HT concentration during KRG treatment may be partially attributable to the 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid/5-HT ratio in the hippocampus of rats with PTSD. These effects may be caused by the activation of hippocampal genes encoding tryptophan hydroxylase-1 and 2 mRNA levels. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that KRG has an antidepressant effect in rats subjected to SPS and may represent an effective use of traditional medicine for the treatment of PTSD.
AB - Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental disorder induced by traumatic stress and often accompanied by depression and/or anxiety, may involve an imbalance in the neurotransmitters associated with the fear response. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has long been used as a traditional medicine and is known to be involved in a variety of pharmacological activities. We used the open field test and forced swimming test to examine the effects of KRG on the depression-like response of rats after exposure to single prolonged stress (SPS), leading to activation of the serotonergic system. Methods: Male rats received KRG (30, 50, and 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) once daily for 14 days after exposure to SPS. Results: Daily KRG administration significantly improved depression-like behaviors in the forced swimming test, increased the number of lines crossed and time spent in the central zone in the open field test, and decreased freezing behavior in contextual and cued fear conditioning. KRG treatment attenuated SPS-induced decreases in serotonin (5-HT) tissue concentrations in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. The increased 5-HT concentration during KRG treatment may be partially attributable to the 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid/5-HT ratio in the hippocampus of rats with PTSD. These effects may be caused by the activation of hippocampal genes encoding tryptophan hydroxylase-1 and 2 mRNA levels. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that KRG has an antidepressant effect in rats subjected to SPS and may represent an effective use of traditional medicine for the treatment of PTSD.
KW - Korean Red Ginseng
KW - depression
KW - posttraumatic stress disorder
KW - serotonin
KW - single prolonged stress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074597436&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jgr.2019.09.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jgr.2019.09.005
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85074597436
SN - 1226-8453
VL - 44
SP - 644
EP - 654
JO - Journal of Ginseng Research
JF - Journal of Ginseng Research
IS - 4
ER -