Department of Agrofood Resources, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Wanju-Gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea.
Department of Food and Biotechnology, Korea University, Sejong, Korea.
J Chin Med Assoc. 2019 Mar;82(3):191-195. doi: 10.1097/JCMA.0000000000000028.
Garlic is a folk medicine known for its multiple physiological activities, but the neuro-modulatory effect of garlic against psychological stress has rarely been explored. The current study was conducted to determine the potential antipsychological stress effect of low temperature-aged garlic (LTAG).
After acute restraint stress exposure, mice were administered with raw garlic (RG, 500 mg/kg, p.o.) or LTAG (500 mg/kg, p.o.). We investigated corticosterone, cortisol, and monoamines levels, and the mRNA expression of genes relevant to oxidative stress.
RG and LTAG treatment significantly decreased stress-related hormones such as corticotropin-releasing factor, adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticosterone, and cortisol. Moreover, RG and LTAG administration significantly restored acute restraint stress-induced changes in concentrations of brain neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, and epinephrine). In addition, RG and LTAG improved the antioxidant defense system by causing an increase in mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in the brain.
This study suggests an antipsychological stress and neuroprotective effect of RG and LTAG under stress conditions.
大蒜作为一种民间药物，具有多种生理活性，但大蒜对心理应激的神经调节作用却鲜有研究。本研究旨在探讨低温陈化大蒜（LTAG）的抗心理应激作用。
急性束缚应激后，给予小鼠生大蒜（RG，500mg/kg，po）或 LTAG（500mg/kg，po）。我们检测了皮质酮、皮质醇和单胺类物质的水平，以及与氧化应激相关基因的 mRNA 表达。
RG 和 LTAG 治疗可显著降低应激相关激素，如促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子、促肾上腺皮质激素、皮质酮和皮质醇。此外，RG 和 LTAG 还可通过增加大脑神经递质（5-羟色胺、去甲肾上腺素、多巴胺和肾上腺素）的浓度来恢复急性束缚应激引起的变化。此外，RG 和 LTAG 通过增加大脑中超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶的 mRNA 表达来改善抗氧化防御系统。
本研究提示 RG 和 LTAG 在应激条件下具有抗心理应激和神经保护作用。
