Adaptogens as Anti-stress Agents in Reducing increased Plasma Cortisol Level during Stress.

[摘要] The stress response involves the activation of both the sympathetic-adrenal response and thehypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. During times of increased stress, the adrenal gland is stimulated toproduce increased levels of hormones. Cortisol, the main hormone involved in the stress response, issecreted in increased amounts within minutes of a perceived stressor. Cortisol secretion can increase asmuch as 20-fold and has several important physiological effects. Short-term surges in cortisol levels cansuppress inflammation and at the same time suppress immune function. Though inflammation control isimportant, surges of sustained levels of cortisol are not healthy and ultimately lead to premature aging,degenerative disease, and increased susceptibility to cancer. Studies show that psycho-social stressactivates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis causing an increase in morning cortisol levels, whichcorrelated to the subjects reports of increased fatigue and anxiety. Although this stress response isimportant for survival during an acute stressor, prolonged activation of the stress response may lead toadrenal exhaustion in which cortisol levels drop to insufficient levels resulting in fatigue or illness. Manyherbs have been shown to impact adrenal function. Adaptogens are plants that produce a non-specificresponse improving the physiological resistance to stressors. These herbs are often used in the context ofadrenal support formulas to balance adrenal hormone levels. It is believed that adaptogenic herbs canincrease low levels of adrenal hormone or decrease levels that are elevated. Additionally, these herbsprovide balancing activity on many body systems that are impacted by stress, such as the immuneresponse and blood sugar control. In the present study, we have evaluated the efficacy of ethanolic extractof Ocimum sanctum 47mg/kg p.o, Withania somnifera 23 mg/kg p.o and Bacopa monnieri 23 mg/kg p.o onplasma cortisol level in mice subjected to swim endurance test and cold restraint stress. The standardgroup was administered water soluble root powder of Panax ginseng 100 mg/kg p.o and the stresscontrol group was administered distilled water orally for 7 days. It was found that mice pretreated withethanolic extracts of Ocimum sanctum, Withania somnifera and Bacopa monnieri showed a fall in theplasma cortisol level. The standard group also showed a significant decrease in the plasma cortisol levelcompared to the stress and normal control groups.

[学科分类] 工程和技术（综合）

[关键词] Adaptogens;Bacopa monnieri;Cortisol;Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis;Ocimum sanctum;Panax ginseng;Withania somnifera