Anxiolytic Effect of Cedrol on Behavior and Brain Neurotransmitter Levels of Female Mice

• Published in: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin 2019/09/01, Vol.42(9), pp.1575-1580
• Main Authors: Zhang, Kai, Yao, Lei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid - metabolism; 5-hydroxytryptamine; Acetic acid; Animal models; Animals; Anti-Anxiety Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Anxiety Agents - therapeutic use; Anxiety; Anxiety - drug therapy; Anxiety - metabolism; anxiolytic effect; Anxiolytics; Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Biogenic Monoamines - metabolism; Brain; Brain - drug effects; Brain - metabolism; cedrol; Dopamine; elevated plus maze; Female; Females; Homovanillic Acid - metabolism; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid - metabolism; light–dark box; Maze Learning - drug effects; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Motor Activity - drug effects; Neurotransmitter Agents - metabolism; Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes - pharmacology; Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes - therapeutic use; Rodents
• ISSN: 0918-6158; 1347-5215
• DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b19-00380

Cedrol has been reported to be effective in reducing anxiety of male mice. The limited application of females in animal models of anxiety makes it difficult to systematically investigate new drug substitutes with potential anxiolytic activity. In the present study, we investigated the behavioral response of female ICR mice to cedrol after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and the light–dark box (LDB) test, followed by determination of neurochemical changes in brain. The data suggested that cedrol at dose of 1200–1600 mg·kg−1 exhibited anxiolytic activity on the female mice, as reflected by greater percentage of entries into the open arms and time spent in the open arms in the EPM, and greater transitions between chambers and percentage of time spent in the light chamber in the LDB. Cedrol increased the level of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), decreased the level of dopamine (DA), reduced the ratio of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA)/5-HT and increased the ratio of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC)/DA, compared with the control group, indicative of an anxiolytic-like effect on female mice via the 5-HTnergic or DAnergic pathways.