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Planta Medica International Open 2016; 3(04): e77-e80
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-112461
Letter
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Nunavik Rhodiola rosea Attenuates Expression of Fear-Potentiated Startle

Anthony Murkar
1   University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
2   School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
,
Pamela Kent
1   University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
2   School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
,
Christian Cayer
1   University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
2   School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
4   Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
,
Jon James
1   University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
,
John T. Arnason
1   University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
4   Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
,
Alain Cuerrier
5   Jardin botanique de Montréal, Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
,
Zulfiquar Merali
1   University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
2   School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
3   Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

received 30 December 2015
revised 14 May 2016

accepted 06 July 2016

Publication Date:
20 January 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Rhodiola rosea is a plant with adaptogenic qualities used by Inuit populations of Nunavik, Quebec (Canada) for general mental and physical rejuvenation. Previous studies have demonstrated that the Canadian populations of R. rosea significantly attenuate the expression of learned fear and anxiety-like behaviors in rodent models. In order to further characterize the anxiolytic activity of Nunavik R. rosea, experiments were conducted to assess the effects of oral administration of the plant extract on both the fear-potentiated startle response and corticosterone levels. Findings suggest that oral administration of R. rosea ethanolic extract (75 mg/kg) significantly attenuated fear-potentiated startle, but did not produce any effects on stress-induced secretion of corticosterone.

Key words

Rhodiola rosea - Crassulaceae - anxiolytic - anxiety - PTSD - glucocorticoid - neuropharmacology - behavior

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