Concepedia

Abstract

1. Effect of alcoholic extracts of plants, Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian plant) and Ocimum sanctum (Indian plant) described earlier as anti-stress agents was studied on the changes in central neurotransmitter (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, 5-hydroxytrypamine) levels and enzyme (monoamine oxidase) activity in the brain induced by stressors. 2. Two kinds of stressors were used, 5 hours swimming in mice and 2 hours gravitational stress in rats. 3. There was an increase in the levels of dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and decrease in adrenaline (A) noradreneline (NA) and monoamine oxidase (MOA) in stressed animals. 4. Both anti-stress drugs prevented the decrease in A, NA, MAO and 5-HT. The increase in DA was facilitated. 5. Prevention and facilitation of changes in brain neurotransmitters and enzymes by anti-stress agents appear to enhance the stress-adaptation phenomenon for better coping of the organism during stressful situations.