Prunella vulgaris attenuates prepulse inhibition deficit and attention disruption induced by MK-801 in mice.

Abstract

Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina is widely distributed in Korea, Japan, China, and Europe, and it has been traditionally used to treat inflammation or hypertension. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the ethanolic extract of the spikes of Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina (EEPV) on dizocilpine (MK-801)-induced schizophrenia-like phenotype behaviors such as the disruption of prepulse inhibition and attention deficits in mice. We also determined the effect of EEPV on MK-801-induced alterations in phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, phosphorylated protein kinase B, phospho-glycogen synthase kinase 3-β, and phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein levels in the cortex and hippocampus of mice. MK-801-induced prepulse inhibition deficits were ameliorated by the administration of EEPV, as shown in the acoustic startle response test. Furthermore, EEPV attenuated the MK-801-induced attention deficits in the water finding test. We also found that EEPV attenuated the increased phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, phosphorylated protein kinase B, or phospho-glycogen synthase kinase 3-β levels induced by MK-801 in the cortex but not in the hippocampus. These results suggest that EEPV could be useful for treating schizophrenia because EEPV ameliorates prepulse inhibition disruption and attention deficits induced by MK-801.

• Authors: Se Jin Park, Se Jin Jeon, Ike C Dela Peña, Hyung Eun Lee, Dong Hyun Kim, Jong Min Kim, Young Woo Lee, Jun Man Jung, Bum Young Shin, Seungheon Lee, Jae Hoon Cheong, Chan Young Shin, Dae Sik Jang, Jong Hoon Ryu
• Journal: Phytotherapy research : PTR (Phytother Res) Vol. 27 Issue 12 Pg. 1763-9 (Dec 2013) ISSN: 1099-1573 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23348874 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
• Plant Extracts
• Dizocilpine Maleate
• Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
• Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3

Topics

• Animals
• Attention (drug effects)
• Cerebral Cortex (drug effects, metabolism)
• Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein (metabolism)
• Dizocilpine Maleate (pharmacology)
• Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases (metabolism)
• Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (metabolism)
• Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
• Hippocampus (drug effects, metabolism)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (metabolism)
• Phosphorylation
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt (metabolism)
• Prunella (chemistry)
• Reflex, Startle (drug effects)
• Schizophrenia (drug therapy)