Crude saponin extracted from Vietnamese ginseng and its major constituent majonoside-R2 attenuate the psychological stress- and foot-shock stress-induced antinociception in mice.

Effects of Vietnamese ginseng (VG) crude saponin and majonoside-R2, a major saponin constituent, on the psychological stress- and foot shock stress-induced antinociception in the tail pinch test were examined in mice. VG crude saponin (6.2, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg, P.O.) attenuated psychological stress- but not foot shock stress-induced antinociceptive response, whereas majonoside-R2 (3, 6.2, and 12.5 mg/kg, P.O. and i.p.), as well as naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.p.), suppressed both psychological stress- and foot shock stress-induced antinociception. Pretreatment with the crude saponin (12.5 mg/kg, P.O.) or majonoside-R2 (6.2 mg/kg, P.O.) for 5 days followed by the treatment in combination with stress for next 5 days did not affect the development of adaptation to foot shock stress, but they significantly suppressed the antinociceptive action of the stress measured on the first, second, and third day during the stress exposure period. Majonoside-R2 (6.2 mg/kg, P.O.) but not the crude saponin (12.5 mg/kg, P.O.) significantly blocked the development of adaptation to psychological stress. These results suggest that VG crude saponin has the suppressing effect on psychological stress- and foot shock stress-induced antinociception and that majonoside-R2 is important for the action of the saponin.