Planta Med 2009; 75(8): 836-839
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185402
Pharmacology
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Anxiolytic-like Effects of Ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2 from Red Ginseng in the Elevated Plus-Maze Model

Tae Woo Kim1 , Hyuck-Jai Choi2 , Nam-Jae Kim2 , Dong-Hyun Kim3
  • 1Gu-Jeong High School, Gangnam-ku, Seoul, Korea
  • 2East-West Medical Research Institute, Kyung Hee Medical Center, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi, Dongdaemun-ku, Seoul, Korea
  • 3Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences and College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Hoegi, Dongdaemun-ku, Seoul, Korea
Further Information

Publication History

received August 20, 2008 revised December 26, 2008

accepted January 27, 2009

Publication Date:
05 March 2009 (online)

Abstract

The anxiolytic-like effects of red ginseng (RG, the steamed root of Panax ginseng, family Araliaceae), its saponin fraction, and its representative constituents, ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2, were investigated in mice using the elevated plus-maze test. These agents significantly increased the time spent on the open arms and the number of open-arm entries. The anxiolytic-like activities of Rg3 and Rh2 were antagonized by flumazenil but not by WAY-100635. RG and its constituents, Rg3 and Rh2, may exert anxiolytic effects by antagonizing GABA/benzodiazepines.

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Prof. Dr. Dong-Hyun Kim

Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences and College of Pharmacy
Kyung-Hee University

1 Hoegi, Dongdaemun-ku

Seoul 130–701

Republic of Korea

Phone: + 82 29 61 03 74

Fax: + 82 29 57 50 30

Email: dhkim@khu.ac.kr