Interventional Effects and Neurometabolic Regulation of a Panax quinquefolius-Containing Herbal Extract (JYF) in Diazepam Withdrawal Syndrome in Mice.
Jiao Yue Y, Gao Chang C, Li Peng P, Liu Yanjiao Y et al.
Background: Long-term benzodiazepine use can lead to dependence and clinically significant withdrawal following discontinuation, highlighting the need to identify effective interventions for withdrawal-associated abnormalities. Methods: High-resolution mass spectrometry was used to characterize the constituents of a Panax quinquefolius-containing herbal extract (JYF) and evaluate their in vivo exposure in rats. Sixty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to control, model, and low-, medium-, and high-dose JYF groups. Diazepam withdrawal was induced after 28 days of subcutaneous diazepam administration (12 mg/kg), and JYF was administered orally during the peri-withdrawal period for 7 days, beginning 4 days before diazepam discontinuation. Behavioral assessments, electroencephalographic/electromyographic (EEG/EMG) recordings, histopathological analysis, and neurochemical measurements were performed. Network proximity analysis, widely targeted metabolomics, targeted neurotransmitter quantification, and integrated pathway analysis were subsequently performed. Results: A total of 61 constituents were identified in JYF, of which 44 were detected in serum and 34 in brain tissue. Network proximity analysis highlighted genistein, columbamine, jatrorrhizine, and berberine as candidate constituents associated with withdrawal, anxiety/depression and sleep-related modules. JYF attenuated diazepam withdrawal-associated weight loss, anxiety-like behavior, sleep fragmentation, abnormal EEG activity, and elevations in corticosterone and orexin A. Metabolomic analyses revealed disturbances in lipid, energy, and amino acid metabolism, with tryptophan and phenylalanine metabolism emerging as prominent pathways associated with JYF intervention. Diazepam withdrawal also disrupted cerebral monoamine homeostasis, as reflected by increased serotonin and norepinephrine and decreased dopamine levels; these alterations generally shifted toward control levels after JYF intervention. Conclusions: JYF alleviates behavioral and sleep-related abnormalities associated with diazepam withdrawal. Its effects may be associated with alterations in brain metabolic homeostasis, including tryptophan- and phenylalanine-related metabolism and monoaminergic neurotransmission. Genistein and berberine were identified as candidate active constituents that warrant further experimental validation.