--- title: Can a natural compound called paeonol ease anxiety and aggression in animal models of PMDD? description: In mouse and rat studies, paeonol reduced anxiety-like and aggressive behaviour at certain doses, but the effective dose differed between models, so this is e url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/paeonol-at-certain-doses-alleviates-aggressive-and-anxiety-like-behaviours-in-2020/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Can a natural compound called paeonol ease anxiety and aggression in animal models of PMDD? Lab study, 2020 # Can a natural compound called paeonol ease anxiety and aggression in animal models of PMDD? In mouse and rat studies, paeonol reduced anxiety-like and aggressive behaviour at certain doses, but the effective dose differed between models, so this is early animal evidence, not proof it works in women. Early or limited evidence Mice and two rat models of PMDD (progesterone withdrawal model and resident intruder model) ## What they did Researchers first tested several doses of paeonol in mice using standard anxiety tests to find the best dose for reducing anxiety. They then gave paeonol to two separate rat models of PMDD, one created by withdrawing progesterone and one based on a resident-intruder aggression test, and measured anxiety and aggressive behaviour afterward. ## What they found The best anti-anxiety dose in mice was 17.5 mg/kg/day for 7 days. In the progesterone withdrawal rats, 6.05 mg/kg paeonol improved anxiety and irritability, while a higher dose of 24.23 mg/kg produced anxiety-like effects instead. In the resident intruder rats, 12.11 mg/kg paeonol improved anxiety and irritable behaviour. Behaviour improved in both PMDD rat models, but the dose that worked best was not the same in each model. ## What it means for you Paeonol looks like a promising candidate for future PMS/PMDD treatment, but it has only been tested in mice and rats, not in women. The best dose varied between the two animal models, so much more research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn for humans. 17.5 mg/kg/d Best anti-anxiety dose in mice 6.05 mg/kg Effective dose, withdrawal rats 12.11 mg/kg Effective dose, intruder rats ## About the study Original title Paeonol at Certain Doses Alleviates Aggressive and Anxiety-Like Behaviours in Two Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Rat Models Authors Zhang H, Geng X, Li Z et al. Journal Frontiers in psychiatry Year 2020 Study design Lab study What was tested Paeonol, a compound from Moutan Cortex, given at different doses Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00295](https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00295) Original abstract Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a common mental health disturbance associated with several periodic psychological symptoms in women. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line treatment for PMS/PMDD patients; however, side effects are inevitable, especially in long-term treatment. In previous studies, the natural compound paeonol in Moutan Cortex was found to play effective roles in central nervous system disorders with its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective effects. Consequently, we assume that paeonol might produce positive effects in the treatment of PMS/PMDD. In this study, the open-field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze (EPM) and light dark box (LDB) tests were performed in mice to determine the optimal dose of paeonol for treating anxiety. Then, paeonol was used to treat the progesterone withdrawal (PWD) and resident intruder paradigm (RIP) rat models of PMDD. Using these two reliable models, the OFT and EPM, LDB, and composite aggressive tests were performed to evaluate the effect of the drug on behavioural symptoms of PMDD. From the dosage screening results, the optimal anti-anxiety dose of paeonol was identified as 17.5 mg/kg/d for 7 days. With regard to the effect of paeonol on PMDD rat models, a significantly improvement was found in the behavioural symptoms, but the effective dose varied in different models. For the PWD model rats, treatment with 6.05 mg/kg paeonol could significantly improve anxiety and irritability, while that with 24.23 mg/kg paeonol resulted in anxiety-like effects in behavioural tests. In RIP model rats, treatment with 12.11 mg/kg paeonol demonstrated excellent effects in improving anxiety, particularly irritable emotional behaviour. In conclusion, our study indicates that paeonol is a potential therapeutic compound for PMS/PMDD; it is a drug option that helps establish dosage guidance for treatment of this condition. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Randomised trial, 2003 Are SSRI antidepressants effective for PMDD? Randomised trial, 1999 Do SSRIs reduce premenstrual dysphoria symptoms? Randomised trial, 1995 Does fluoxetine help premenstrual dysphoria? Randomised trial, 2017 Does Sepranolone reduce symptoms of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD)? Cohort study, 2012 How quickly does fluoxetine start working for PMDD symptoms? Randomised trial, 2005 How do PMDD symptoms start, end, and vary from cycle to cycle? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗