Psychological Stress-Induced Oxidative Stress as a Model of Sub-Healthy Condition and the Effect of TCM. Issue 2 (2007)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Lei; Muxin, Gong; Nishida, Hiroshi; Shirakawa, Chieko; Sato, Shinji; Konishi, Tetsuya
• Is Part Of: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine. Volume 4:Issue 2(2006)
• Page Start: 195
• Page End: 202
• Publication Date: 2007
• Subjects: antioxidant-based herbal medicine -- oxidative stress -- peroxynitrite -- psychological stress -- sub-healthy condition -- traditional Chinese medicine; Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.1093/ecam/nel080
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-427X

Abstract

Abstract : Distress-mediated tissue oxidative stress was examined as a model of sub-healthy condition defined in traditional Chinese medicine theory. Mice were subjected to psychologically stressful conditions by whiskers removal. Under this condition, spontaneous locomotive activity was significantly enhanced in the dark ( P < 0.05 versus the control mice in three different movements), and granulocytes/lymphocytes balance shifted to granulocytes. At the same time, peroxynitrite level in blood plasma increased to ∼180% from that of the control mice at 6 h after removal of the whiskers ( P < 0.01), and was maintained even after 12 h. Both protein carbonyl formation and lipid peroxidation were significantly increased under this condition in brain, heart, liver and spleen at 6 h after removal of whiskers ( P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and these levels were maximized after 12 h (increased to 120–160%, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The oxidative tissue injuries observed at 12 h after the removal of the whiskers were effectively prevented by two traditional Chinese medicine formula: Shengmai San (SMS) and Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang (LGZGT), when administered for 5 days before the removal of the whiskers. Therefore, this stress model is considered useful in assessing the preventive potential of antioxidants and antioxidant-based herbal mixtures in treating the pathophysiology associated with psychological or emotional distress.