Effects of herba epimedium extract on spontaneous activity and sleep function of mice / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUD According to the record of Compendium of Herbology of herbs epimedium, Berberidaceae barrenwort genus, herbs epimedium has the effects of supplementing essence qi, consolidating bones and tendons, tonifying bruise of loin and strengthening cardiac ability, etc. In recent years, its clinicalapplications and pharmacological effects have been reported more frequently.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of herba epimedium extract on spontaneous activity and sleep function of mice under the intervention of suprathreshold and subthreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium with the method of jiggle-cage transducer.SETTING: Department of Mathematics and Physics, Laboratory of Analysis, Department of Pharmacology, Gannan Medical College.MATERIALS A total of 110 healthy adult Kunming male mice of clean grade, with a body mass between 18 g and 22 g.METHODS: The experiment was conducted in Laboratory of Scientific Research Institute of Gannan Medical College from August to September 2004. ① The mice (n=30) were injected intraperitoneally with 1 000 g/L herbs epimediu extract(0.01 mL/g) and put into hanging cage 15 minutes later, after a 3-minute stabilization period, waveforms of spontaneous activity within 15 s after the administration of drug were recorded. ②The mice (n=40) were intraperitoneally injected with 1000 g/L herba epimediu extract(0.01 mL/g), 15 minutes later, injected intraperitone ally with 0.02 mL/g suprathreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium (2.5 g/L), and then observe the disappearance time of righting reflex of the mouse. ③ The mice (n=40) were injected intraperitoneally with 1 000 g/L herba epimediu extract(0.01 mL/g), 15 minutes later,intraperitoneally injected with 0.01mL/g subthreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium (0.25%),and then observe the disappearance time of righting reflex of the mouse.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of spontaneous activity of the mice; sleeping time of the mouse with suprathreshold and subthreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium.RESULTS: All the 110 mice entered result analysis. ① Herba epimedium extract (0.1 mL/10 g) could significantly inhibit the spontaneous activity of the mice, and the frequencies of large waves and moderate waves decreased obviously (7.4±6.5, 47.1±18.7; t=3.265, P ＜ 0.01). ② Herbs epimedium extract (0.01mL/10g) could shorten the time for falling asleep and prolong the sleeping time of the mouse with suprathreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium, and there was significant difference as compared with the control group [(3.9±2.8), (219.7±87.2); (5.8±2.9), (113.0±77.4) minutes; t=2.452, 2.501, P ＜ 0.05]. ③ Herba epimedium extract (0.01 mL/10 g)could significantly prolong the time for falling asleep and the sleeping time of the mouse with subthreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium, and there was significant difference as compared with the control group [(6.6±5.2),(60.3±71.7); 0, 0 minute; t=3.275, P ＜ 0.01]. Herba epimedium extract and pentobarbital sodium had synergistic effect of central inhibition.CONCLUSION: Herba epimedium extract has the effect of significant central inhibition, which could inhibit the spontaneous activity of mice ,remarkably shorten the time for falling asleep,and obviously prolong the sleeping time of the mouse with suprathreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium, prolong the time for falling asleep of the mouse with subthreshold dose of pentobarbital sodium and increase the amount of animals falling asleep.