Sedative Effect of Sophora flavescens and Matrine.
10.4062/biomolther.2016.156
- Author:
Hyun ju LEE
1
;
Sun young LEE
;
Daehyuk JANG
;
Sun Yong CHUNG
;
Insop SHIM
Author Information
1. Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02435, Republic of Korea. ishim@khu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Sophora flavescens;
Matrine;
Serotonin;
Electroencephalography;
Locomotor;
Sedative effect
- MeSH:
Animals;
Brain;
Electroencephalography;
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;
Eye Movements;
Hypnotics and Sedatives*;
Methods;
Motor Activity;
Neurons;
Preoptic Area;
Rats;
Serotonin;
Sophora*
- From:Biomolecules & Therapeutics
2017;25(4):390-395
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The present study investigated the sedative effects of Sophora flavescens (SF) and its bioactive compound, matrine through performing locomotor activity test and the electroencephalography (EEG) analysis in the rat. The underlying neural mechanism of their beneficial effects was determined by assessing c-Fos immunoreactivity and serotonin (5-HT) in the brain utilizing immunohistochemical method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that SF and matrine administration had an effect on normalization of caffeine-induced hyperactivity and promoting a shift toward non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. c-Fos-immunoreactivity and 5-HT level in the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO), a sleep promoting region, were increased in the both SF and matrine-injected groups. In conclusion, SF and its bioactive compound, matrine alleviated caffeine-induced hyperactivity and promoted NREM sleep by activating VLPO neurons and modulating serotonergic transmission. It is suggested that SF might be a useful natural alternatives for hypnotic medicine.
