Abstract:

Objective: To investigate antianxiety, sedative and hypnotic effects of Schisandra chinensis polysaccharides
(ScP), and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Totally 40 ICR mice were randomly divided into 4 groups,
namely, control (distilled water), low-dose ScP (75 mg/kg), moderate-dose ScP (150 mg/kg) and high-dose ScP (300 mg/kg)
groups. The mice were orally administrated with ScP for 7 consecutive days. After the last administration, the effect of
ScP on autonomic activities of the mice was observed with an independent activity recorder and the effect of ScP on the
sleeping number, sleeping latency and sleeping time of the mice treated with the sub-threshold and threshold dose of sodium
pentobarbital was observed respectively. Moreover, the elevated plus maze (EPM) was used to establish an anxiety mice
model for observing the antianxiety effect of ScP in mice. Enzyme-linked immune assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the
contents of neurotransmitters GABA and Glu in the brains of the mice for exploring the underlying mechanisms. Results:
ScP could significantly reduce the number of autonomic activity (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), increase the sleeping number,
shorten the sleeping latency of the mice treated with sub-threshold dose of sodium pentobarbital (P < 0.05), and prolong
the sleeping time of the mice treated with threshold dose of sodium pentobarbital (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). ScP showed a
confirmed anxiolytic effect by increasing the open arm entry (OE) (P < 0.01) and the open arm time (OT) (P < 0.05) in
EPM mice. ScP significantly decreased Glu contents in the brain tissue of mice (P <0.05), but did not affect GABA contents
significantly. Conclusion: ScP has an antianxiety, sedative and hypnotic effect in mice, which may be related to the reduction
of Glu in mouse brain.

Key words: Schisandra chinensis polysaccharide, sedation, hypnosis, antianxiety