Antidepressant-like effects of a water-soluble extract from the culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia in rats.

BACKGROUND: Ganoderma lucidum is a popular medicinal mushroom used for promoting health and longevity in Asian countries. Previously, we reported that a water-soluble extract from a culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia (MAK) exerts antioxidative and cerebroprotective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury in vivo. Here, we evaluated the antidepressant and anxiolytic activities of MAK in rats. METHODS: MAK (0.3 or 1 g/kg, p.o.) was administered in the experimental animals 60 min before the forced swimming, open-field, elevated plus-maze, contextual fear-conditioning, and head twitch tests. Additionally, the mechanisms involved in the antidepressant-like action of MAK were investigated by the serotonin precursor 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP)- or 5-HT2A agonist (±)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane hydrochloride (DOI)-induced head twitch responses. RESULTS: Treatment with MAK (1 g/kg) exhibited antidepressant-like effects in the forced swimming test, attenuated freezing behavior in the contextual fear-conditioning test, and decreased the number of head twitches induced by DOI, but not with 5-HTP. No significant response was observed in locomotion or anxiety-like behavior, when the animals were evaluated in the open-field or elevated plus-maze test, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that MAK has antidepressant-like potential, which is most likely due to the antagonism of 5-HT2A receptors, and possesses anxiolytic-like effects toward memory-dependent and/or stress-induced anxiety in rats.

[Study on the toxic reaction induced by single dose of qingkailing injection].

OBJECTIVE: To study the toxic reaction induced by Qingkailing Injection. METHODS: Kunming mice were injected single dose of Qingkailing Injection via tail vein and observed for 14 days to test the toxic reaction of the drug. According to Chinese Pharmacopoeia, hemolysis tests were conducted on the injections of different lots and each ingredient of the injection. RESULTS: Toxic reaction induced by single dose of injection--with dose increasing,mice quickly showed different responses such as hypodynamia, convulsion, syncope and even death after injection. In the high dose group, blood routine detection showed that mice have lower counts of RBC, WBC and lower content of hemoglobin; The pulmonary pathological sections of dead mice showed significant hyperemia. And there were no significant difference in the contents of serum electrolyte (K+, Na+, Ca2+) between normal saline control group and Qingkailing injection group. Hemolysis test in vitro--Honeysuckle extraction (significantly) and gardenia extraction which were components of Qing-kailing injection caused hemolysis in certain dose; While gardenia, pearl shell and isatis root extraction caused RBC agglutination. With higher concentration, the Qingkailing injections of different lot caused different degree of hemolysis. There was no significant difference in the hemolysis test in vitro between the group of Balb/C mice which were sensitized by Qingkailing injection or not. CONCLUSION: In clinical practice some adverse reactions induced by Qingkailing injection occurred concomitantly with acute hemolysis within vessels, which might be caused by honeysuckle and gardenia. And the hemolysis was independent of allergy.

Mercury intoxication presenting with tics.

A 5 year old Chinese boy presented with recurrent oral ulceration followed by motor and vocal tics. The Chinese herbal spray he used for his mouth ulcers was found to have a high mercury content. His blood mercury concentration was raised. Isolated tics as the sole presentation of mercury intoxication has not previously been reported.