황칠(黃漆) 약침이 정신 스트레스를 받은 백서의 수면 관련 호르몬, 인지에 미치는 영향

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to check the therapeutic effect of the Dendropanax morbifera Pharmacopuncture for insomnia and cognition caused by psychosocial stress. Methods: We separated Wistar rats (older than age 10 weeks, 300 g) into normal, control, positive control (Zolpidem administered, PC), and Dendropanax morbifera Pharmacopuncture experimental groups (DPA). Psychosocial stress such as circadian rhythm change, clammy straw, predator stress, restraint stress, noise bursts, and flashing lights were applied to the control, PC, DPA groups. The Dendropanax morbifera Pharmacopuncture group was given 0.5×, 1× and 2× amount concentration of Dendropanax morbifera Pharmacopuncture, respectively. The levels of Melatonin, Serotonin, Corticosterone, GABA, BDNF and CREB were measured, and the Y-maze test, weight and blood test were performed. Results: In all of the DPA groups, the Melatonin level showed no noticeable difference. In the DPA-2x group, Serotonin increased significantly. In all the experimental groups, Corticosterone decreased significantly and GABA showed increasing tendency. The DPA-1x and DPA-2x groups showed remarkable increase in BDNF and DPA-0.5x and the DPA-2x groups showed significant increase in CREB. The DPA-2x group showed remarkable increase in the Alternation behavior category of the Y-maze test. In all of the experimental groups the weight change showed increasing tendency, whereas no noticeable differences were found among all experimental groups regarding AST, ALT, BUN, Creatinine and CBC. Conclusions: Dendropanax morbifera Pharmacopuncture increases levels of serotonin and GABA, decreases corticosterone, increases levels of BDNF and CREB, and increases the ratio of alternation behavior in the Y-maze test. Thus, I suggest that Dendropanax morbifera Pharmacopuncture has the effect of treating insomnia caused by psychosocial stress, activating the brain, and improving cognition.