Anxiolytic Activities of Sanguisorbae Radix

지유(Sanguisorbae Radix)의 항 불안 활성

To detect anxiolytic activity from Sanguisorbae Radix we used various animal models of fear or anxiety that are sensitive to known anxiolytic drugs. While diazepam showed significant anxiolytic activities in all five animal models empolyed in this study, $5-HT_3$ antagonist ondansetron and ethylacetate fraction of Sanguisorbae Radix did show anti-anxiety effects in social interaction and two compartment exploration tests. Ethylacetate fraction of Sanguisorbae Radix and 5-HT related drugs like ondansetron and buspirone, however, seem to have merit over diazepam in terms of not causing drowsiness. Among ten subfractions obtained from ethylacetate fraction of Sanguisorbae Radix by silica gel chromatography, subfraction I showed higher anxiolytic activities than subfraction DEF in two animal models, social interaction and two compartment exploration tests. There is growing evidence for the role of 5-HT in the control of anxiety. We hope that new compound(s) will be found from the active fractions of Sanguisorbae Radix as a potential anxiolytic agent in the future.