Abstract
Benzodiazepines (BDZs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used mainly to treat anxiety disorders, but the side effects of these agents often limit their use in the management of anxiety disorders. We aimed to show that treatment of anxiety disorders using Kampo medicine was useful. Although hangekobokuto and kososan are primarily used to treat anxiety-related disorders, little experimental work has been done on its anxiolytic effects. We carried out this study to reveal the difference in anxiolytic-like effects between hangekobokuto and kososan using two anxiety models in mice: marble-burying test and the elevated plus maze. Oral administration of hangekobokuto (1.0 g/kg/body weight, 7 days) significantly inhibited marble-burying behavior; increased the number of entries into the open arms; and the total time spent in the open arm. Oral administration of kososan (1.0 g/kg/body weight, 7 days) significantly inhibited marble-burying behavior, but did not increase the number of entries into the open arms and the total time spent in the open arm. Hangekobokuto and kososan show anxiolytic-like effects in two behavioral anxiety models in mice, and that the mode of action of kososan is different from that of hangekobokuto.
