Orally administered Panax notoginseng influence on rat spontaneous behaviour

Panax notoginseng root is highly prized in China for its supposed hemorheol ogical properties. Its behavioural effects are still not scientifically inv estigated; therefore, our preliminary study aim is to evaluate the influenc e of this phyto-drug on rats spontaneous behaviour. High quality P. notogin seng root dry extract has been orally administered through gastric tube for 10 days in two doses (43 and 86 mg/kg in a volume of 5 ml/kg per day) and its effects on locomotion, emotional reactivity and nutrition have been eva luated in different groups of Wistar rats (ten per group) versus animals tr eated with 5 ml/kg per day of saline. Actimeter test, open field test and m icrostructural analysis of unconditioned behaviour were carried out. The da ta were processed by ANOVA-test followed by the Student's one-tail t-test a nd a 0.05 significance level was chosen for all statistical tests. A signif icant increase in spontaneous motility being not associated to an increase in grooming episodes duration and number was found in all tests (P<0.05). F eeding behaviour appeared not to be affected by the treatment. Observed eff ects did not seem dose-related. Reduction of grooming episodes duration and number and increase of inner crossings in open field suggested that notogi nsenoides can modulate emotional responses in rats. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scien ce Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.