The Influence of Baikal Skullcap on Carbohydrate Metabolism of Rats Subjected to Adrenaline Stress

Medications from the roots of Baikal skullcap have antihypertensive, vasodilatory, antispasmodic and sedative effects, surpassing the therapeutic effect of the valerian root. Infusion of a cayenne is basically similar to the infusion of the dog nettle, suppressing the central nervous system (but twice as active), has a hypotensive and sedative effect, and contributes to a decrease in tension in physical and mental fatigue. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of Baikal skullcap extract on the indices of carbohydrate metabolism of rats with adrenaline model of stress. Material and methods. Five groups of animals were investigated: I – control, which were injected with 0.9% of NaCl solution; II – animals injected with adrenaline twice in dose of 0.05 mg/kg body mass with 1 h interval between injections followed by sampling 30 min afterward; III – animals injected twice with adrenaline and twice with Baikal skullcap extract in dose 0.3 ml/kg followed by sampling 30 min afterward; IV – animals, which were injected with adrenaline followed by sampling 24 hours afterward; V – animals injected twice with adrenaline and twice with Baikal skullcap followed by sampling 24 hours afterward. Results and discussion. The level of glucose dropped one day after adrenaline injection in blood, liver, and muscles of studied rats. The effect was not observed in case of concomitant injection of Baikal skullcap extract. Moreover, the extract resulted in a rise of glucose level in muscles one day after adrenaline injection. Adrenaline led to a decrease in pyruvate concentration in blood and muscles. Baikal skullcap extract abrogated this effect for blood and mitigated it for muscles. Lactate level went up in all tissues investigated one day after adrenaline injection. Extract of Baikal skullcap attenuated this effect for liver and muscles and aggravated it for blood. Adrenaline increased activity of lactate dehydrogenase in blood and decreased it in liver. Concomitant injection of adrenaline and Baikal skullcap extract led to substantial increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity in blood. The increase of lactate dehydrogenase activity in the blood after injection of the skullcap extract in all sampling periods can be mediated by an influence of one the skullcap components, vogonin, that, in turn, can affect induction of enzyme synthesis, in the liver and enhance intensity of metabolic processes. Conclusions. The extract of the Baikal skullcap weakens the effect of adrenaline on the carbohydrate metabolism, which is confirmed by the level of glucose, lactate and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in muscles, liver and blood. The anti-stress effect has a dose-dependent temporal character, which is most pronounced in two-time administration after 24 hours.