Anxiolytic activity of standardized extract of Korean ginseng - a study on exploratory behavior

Abstract

The roots of the plant Korean ginseng have been extensively used in the traditional Chinese herbal medicine. We investigated the standardized extract of Korean ginseng on animal models of anxiety based on exploratory behavior. Korean ginseng extract (KGE) (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg) was administered intra-peritoneally. The anxiolytic activity was studied using elevated plus maze (EPM) paradigm, light/dark apparatus (LDA), open field apparatus (OFA) and the hole board apparatus (HBA). Diazepam (1mg/kg) was used as a standard anxiolytic drug. In EPM, KGE (10 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the time spent in open arms and the number of entries in open arms. In LDA, KGE (10 mg/kg) increased the number of transitions. In OFA, KGE (3 and 10 mg/kg) significantly increased (P < 0.05) the number of squares traversed. In HBA the number of head pokes were significantly increased with KGE (3 and 10 mg/kg). KGE at all selected doses did not affect the motor coordination. Thus, the study suggests that saponin containing standardized Korean ginseng extract possess anxiolytic activity.