Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 75 (4), 391-397 (1997)


Effects of Kamikihi-To, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, on Behavioral Changes Induced by Methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate in Mice and Rats

Koji Nishizawa and Akira Yamashita (*)



Kampo (Traditional Chinese Medicine) Research Laboratories, Kanebo, Ltd., 5-90, Tomobuchi-cho 1-chome, Miyakojima-ku, Osaka 534, Japan
(*) To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Abstract: The effects of Kamikihi-To (KMK), a traditional Chinese medicine, on behavioral changes induced by methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCM) were evaluated in mice and rats. beta-CCM, an anxiogenic benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist (3.0 mg/kg, i.v. administered 1 min before the test), decreased the locomotor activity of mice in a novel environment. Furthermore, beta-CCM (0.1 mg/kg, i.v. administered 10 min before the test) facilitated the suppression of drinking behavior induced by punishment in the water lick conflict test in rats. KMK (1.0 and 2.0 g/kg, p.o. administered 1 hr before the test) antagonized the decreased locomotor activity in the beta-CCM-treated mice. KMK (2.0 g/kg, p.o.) also recovered the suppression of drinking behavior in the beta-CCM-treated rats. KMK (2.0 g/kg, p.o.) had no effect on beta-CCM-untreated mice and rats in these tests. These findings suggest that KMK has a protective effect against beta-CCM-induced behavioral changes.

Keywords: Kamikihi-To, Anxiety, Methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate, Locomotor activity, Water-lick test


Copyright© The Japanese Pharmacological Society 1997

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