Abstract:

In order to evaluate the health function of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from branch and leaf of Platycladus orientalis, effects of the volatile on ICR mice spontaneous behavior were examined for successive 6 days. Using an open-field test the changes of mice behavior indicators were observed under environments with different concentrations of volatile matter. The results were as follows: 1)The total moving distance of treatment group was greater than that of the control group in the open field, and the distance was positively correlated with the concentration of volatile compounds, which demonstrated that P. orientalis volatile stimulated mice. 2) The three indicators, including central grid distance, the central cell exercise time and frequency of standing, presented a stage change. The inquiry ability of treatment group was bigger than the control group at the adaptation stage, however the differences were not significant during the familiar environment stage. Nevertheless, reduction of the indicator values in treatment group was greater than that of the control group, which indicated that P. orientalis volatile played a beneficial role in increasing cognitive and memory abilities of mice. 3)Treatment groups and control group had the same changes in body weight, but the fecal grains of treatment group were always less than the control group, indicating that the P. orientalis volatile odor environment had no influence on mice' appetites, and mice were relatively relaxed with the volatile matter.

Key words: Platycladus orientalis, VOCs, mouse, locomotor activity, open field test