This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 0269881108089872v1 23/2/130    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Mattioli, L Articles by Perfumi, M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mattioli, L Articles by Perfumi, M Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Effects of Rhodiola rosea L. extract on behavioural and physiological alterations induced by chronic mild stress in female rats

Faculty of Pharmacy, Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy

C Funari

Faculty of Pharmacy, Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy

M Perfumi

Faculty of Pharmacy, Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy marina.perfumi{at}unicam.it

Abstract

Rhodiola rosea L. is one of the most popular adaptogen and an antistress plant in European and Asiatic traditional medicine. Our previous studies have confirmed the adaptogenic and antistress properties of a single administration of R. rosea L. extract in rats exposed to acute stress. There is increasing evidence that prolonged exposure to stressful life events and depression are both related to significant behavioural, endocrinological and neurobiological changes in human and animal subjects. The aim of this study was to determine whether chronic treatment with a hydroalcoholic R. rosea extract (RHO) standardized in 3% rosavin and 1% salidroside can prevent alterations induced in female rats following 6 weeks of a chronic mild stress (CMS) procedure. This was analysed through the behavioural and physiological parameters of consumption of 1% sucrose solution, locomotor and exploratory activities, body weight gain and oestrous cycle length. After the first 3 weeks of stress, RHO was administered daily by gavage at doses of 10, 15 and 20 mg/kg for the remaining 3 weeks. In addition, the antidepressant drug fluoxetine (10 mg/kg os), which has been shown to reverse CMS-induced disruptions, was used as the reference treatment. Rats subjected to the CMS procedure demonstrated decreased sucrose intake, reduced moving behaviour, minimized weight gain and dysregulation of their oestrous cycle. Treatment with RHO completely reverted all of these changes. The effects of RHO were comparable to those of fluoxetine. Interestingly, neither RHO nor fluoxetine influence the behavioural and physiological parameters tested in non-stressed animals. These findings strongly showed that chronic administration of RHO results in potent inhibition of the behavioural and physiological changes induced by chronic exposure to mild stressors.

Key Words: adaptogens • anhedonia • antistress • CMS • fluoxetine • oestrous cycle • Rhodiola rosea

This version was published on March 1, 2009

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 23, No. 2, 130-142 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0269881108089872


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?