[Antimotion sickness effects of ginsenosides combined with dexamethasone in rats].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the antimotion sickness effects of ginsenosides combined with dexamethasone in rats.

METHODS

Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal saline, scopolamine-treated, ginsenosides-treated, dexamethasone-treated and ginsenosides plus dexamethasone-treated groups. There were 10 rats in each group. The rats in each group were fed with corresponding ingredients respectively, and then the rats were exposed to abnormal acceleration for one hour. The motion sickness index, the level of kaolin consumption and the course and time of spontaneous activity were observed.

RESULTS

The motion sickness index and the level of kaolin consumption of acceleration-exposed rats in ginsenosides plus dexamethasone-treated group were significantly lower than those in normal saline group. And the course and time of spontaneous activity of acceleration-exposed rats in ginsenosides plus dexamethasone-treated group were significantly higher than those in normal saline group. The level of body weight increment of acceleration-exposed rats in ginsenosides plus dexamethasone-treated group was significantly higher than that in dexamethasone-treated group.

CONCLUSION

Ginsenosides combined with dexamethasone can significantly increase tolerance to acceleration of rats, and the drug combination can decrease side effects of methylprednisolone, such as body weight loss.