Survey study, 2023
Does paeonol, a compound from traditional Chinese medicine, help with PMDD symptoms in rats?
Yes, in rats. Paeonol reduced irritability, anxiety, and social withdrawal, and it improved brain structure and reduced nerve cell death. However, this has only been tested in rats, not humans.
What they did
Created PMDD-like behavior in rats and then gave them paeonol. Researchers measured changes in irritability, anxiety, and social behavior, and examined the rats' brains for damage. They also analyzed changes in genes, stress hormones, and cell signaling pathways.
What they found
Paeonol reduced irritability, anxiety, and social withdrawal behaviors in rats. It lowered stress hormone levels, improved the structure of the brain region involved in emotion, and reduced the death of nerve cells. Paeonol changed the expression of several genes and activated a specific cellular signaling pathway involved in mood regulation.
What it means for you
This study explains one possible way that paeonol might work for PMDD mood symptoms and brain effects. The major limitation is that this was done only in rats. The findings have not yet been tested in human women, so it is unknown whether paeonol has the same effects in people.
Rats
Animal model type
About the study
- Original title
- Paeonol ameliorates hippocampal neuronal damage by inhibiting GRM5/GABBR2/β-arrestin2 and activating the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway in premenstrual irritability rats
- Authors
- Wei E, Gao A, Mu X et al.
- Journal
- Brain research bulletin
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- Paeonol, a compound from the bark of Cortex Moutan (a traditional Chinese medicine plant)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110830
Topics
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