Sirinapa Rungruang¹, Jintana Sattayasai¹, Jirayut Kaewmor¹, Araya Supawat², Kusavadee Sangdee², Charshawn Lahnwong¹, Kutcharin Phunikhom¹

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Polycephalomyces nipponicus (P. nipponicus) extract on ethanol withdrawal syndrome in mice. Methods: Male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were divided into 3 groups of 10 animals per group. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with ethanol (2 g/kg/day) or normal saline solution 0.9 % (0.05 mL/kg) as control for 10 consecutive days. Anxiety-like behavior associated with alcohol withdrawal syndroms (AWS) was assessed at 12, 24, and 36 h after the last dose of ethanol or normal saline using the light-dark box, open field, and elevated plus maze tests. Thereafter, the time that showed the most prominent AWS was chosen to determine the effect of P. nipponicus extract. P. nipponicus extract (600 mg/kg, orally) or diazepam (4 mg/kg, i.p., as a positive control), was administered 1 h before the tests. Results: Polycephalomyces nipponicus extract significantly mitigated anxiety-like behavior in alcohol-withdrawn mice across all evaluated models (p < 0.05). The results suggest that P. nipponicus reduced alcohol withdrawal syndrome, especially anxiety-like behavior. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that P. nipponicus may be useful in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, especially anxiety-like behavior. This study shows the potential of P. nipponicus as a new intervention for alleviating neurochemical imbalances linked to alcohol withdrawal.