Effects of Panax Ginseng root on conditioned avoidance response in rats

Pole climbing and shuttle box tests were employed to study conditioned avoidance response (CAR) and discrimination behaviour in Wistar male rats given extracts from Panax Ginseng root intraperitonealy. Neutral saponins (GNS), a water soluble fraction (GF4) which does not contain saponins, and a lipid soluble fraction (GNo. 5) inhibited CAR and discrimination ability between 500 Hz sound with electric shock (SD) and 1000 Hz sound without shock (Sdelta). Small doses of GNo. 5 and ginsenoside Rg fraction (GRg) produced a slight shortening of the response latency (RL) to the conditioned stimulus in CAR. GNo. 5 produced the incorrect response to Sdelta. Significant changes in the extinction of CAR were not evident with any fraction. Data from these tests indicate that Panax Ginseng root contains at least three sedative compounds.