Elucidating the Effects of a Cryptomeria fortunei Forest Environment on Overall Health Based on Open Field Testing of Mice

Yanying Wang, Yuying Li, Zonghua Ji, Feng Han, Dong Yang and Cui Lv
Additional contact information
Yanying Wang: Institute of Science and Technology for Development of Shandong, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Yuying Li: Institute of Science and Technology for Development of Shandong, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Zonghua Ji: Institute of Science and Technology for Development of Shandong, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Feng Han: Institute of Science and Technology for Development of Shandong, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Dong Yang: Institute of Science and Technology for Development of Shandong, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
Cui Lv: Laboratory of Immunology for Environment and Health, Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: In order to elucidate the impact of fortunei forest environment on overall health, the effect of the Cryptomeria fortunei forest environment on mice was examined. Using an OFT (Open Field Test), the behavior of mice in fortunei forest and in an indoor environment (used as a control) was analyzed, while minor changes in climate, oxygen, and suspended particulate matter were observed and recorded simultaneously. The results indicated that the two environments were significantly different in regard to relative humidity, wind speed, and the oxygen content of air, while there were no significant differences in temperature. Importantly, spontaneous activity behavioral indicators in mice were significantly different. Mice in the Cryptomeria fortunei environment (LS group) spent less time in the corners and near walls in comparison to mice in the indoor environment (CK group). Compared with indoor control mice, for the mice exposed to forest environments total distance traveled, central grid distance, frequency of movement through the central grid, frequency of standing, and body mass significantly increased; The number of fecal grains significantly decreased. The spontaneous activity behavioral indicators changed over time stages. In the early stages there were no differences, but after accumulation of environmental effects in the late stages, significant differences were evident. The above results showed that the Cryptomeria fortunei forest environment increased excitability and cognitive ability of mice, was able to effectively alleviate anxiety, and was able to emotionally relax and improve the appetite of the mice.

Keywords: forest environments; locomotor activity; open field test; Kunming mice; forest bathing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/1/59/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/1/59/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2021:i:1:p:59-:d:708160

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().