Seyyed Ebrahim Hosseini; Sara Hamzavi; Heidar Agh baba
Volume 22, Issue 4 , September and October 2015, , Pages 557-564
Abstract
Background and purpose: Stress and anxiety as important and common disorders in humane societies can lead to many other diseases. Due to the relatively high side effects of tranquilizers and anti-anxiety chemicals, the tendency to use herbal medicines as a treatment for anxiety disorders is increasing. ...
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Background and purpose: Stress and anxiety as important and common disorders in humane societies can lead to many other diseases. Due to the relatively high side effects of tranquilizers and anti-anxiety chemicals, the tendency to use herbal medicines as a treatment for anxiety disorders is increasing. This study evaluated the effects of alcoholic extract of Papaver rhoeas on anxiety in elevated plus maze, weight and plasma corticosterone levels in rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 56 adult male rats were used. They were assigned to 7 groups of 8 animals including control group (no treatment), sham 1 (receiving saline), sham 2 (exposure to plus maze) and three experimental groups that received doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg alcoholic extract of Papaver rhoeas via intraperitoneal injections. Elevated plus maze was used to measure anxiety. The number of ties mice were present in the open and closed arms of the maze was calculated and their plasma levels and body weight were measured. The data were analyzed using SPSS-18 via one-way ANOVA and Tukey follow-up tests. Results: The results showed that the alcoholic extract of Papaver rhoeas at the given doses increased the number of entries into the open arms of elevated plus maze. It increased weight gain of animals and reduced plasma corticosterone levels at doses 200 and 400 mg/kg at pConclusion: Probably due to its sedative properties and its morphine materials, Papaver rhoeas extract reduces anxiety levels and corticosterone and increases the weight of the animals under study.
Hossein Shirvani; Fatemeh Rostamkhani; Homeyra Zardooz
Volume 21, Issue 5 , September and October 2014, , Pages 819-828
Abstract
Background and objective: Stress specially the chronic psychological one is an important issue of our modern society. In this regard, this study has been investigated the effects of chronic psychological stress on metabolic, hormonal and behavioral parameters.
Materials and methods: The present study ...
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Background and objective: Stress specially the chronic psychological one is an important issue of our modern society. In this regard, this study has been investigated the effects of chronic psychological stress on metabolic, hormonal and behavioral parameters.
Materials and methods: The present study is an experimental intervention.The animals were divided into control and stressed groups and then subdivided into 15 and 30 days (n=7). Stress was induced by the communication box.This device consisted of 9 chambers. The animals received electrical shock in five chambers and the animals in four chambers exposed to various emotional. Chronic stress for 15 and 30 days (h / day1) was applied. Blood sampling was done by using retro orbital puncture method. The plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, insulin, and corticosterone were measured. In addition, feed and water intake, latency to eat and drink, adrenal and body weights were determined. For statistical analysis a mixed analysis of variance with repeated measures within the stressed and control groups and independent measures between the two groups was performed by SPSS Version 16.0 program package. The level of significance was considered less than 0.05.
Results: Chronic psychological stress did not significantly change plasma corticosterone (P=0.41), insulin (P=0.45), glucose (P=0.47), triglyceride (P=0.07) and cholesterol (P=0.26) levels. 30 days chronic stress significantly increased feed intake compared to control ones (P=0.01). Whereas water intake (P=0.07), latency to eat (P=0.70) and drink (P=0.08) did not change significantly in the stressed group. 30 days exposure to the stress in both control and stressed groups increased body (P=0.002 and P=0.004 respectively) and adrenal (P=0.01 and P=0.04 respectively) weights markedly compared to day 15.
Conclusion: short and mid-term psychological stress did not change hormonal and metabolic parameters significantly, whereas feed intake was significantly increased. However, no significant difference was observed in body weight of stressed animals compared to controls.