- 作者：Guang Yue Su ; Jing Yu Yang ; Fang Wang ; Jie Ma ; Kuo Zhang ; Ying Xu Dong ; Shao Jiang Song ; Xiu Mei Lu ; Chun Fu Wu
- 关键词：Liquiritin (PubChem CID ; 503737) ; Ginsenoside Rg1 (PubChem CID ; 441923) ; Baicalin (PubChem CID ; 64982) ; Baicalein (PubChem CID ; 5281605) ; Saikosaponin A (PubChem CID ; 167928) ; Wogonin (PubChem CID ; 5281703) ; Isoliquiritin (PubChem CID ; 5318591) ; Glycyrrhizic acid (PubChem CID ; 14982) ; Dopamine (PubChem CID ; 681) ; 5-Hydroxytryptamine (PubChem CID ; 5202)
- 刊名：Journal of Ethnopharmacology
- 出版年：27 February, 2014
- 年：2014
- 卷：152
- 期：1
- 页码：217-226
- 全文大小：3191 K
Ethnopharmacological relevance
Xiaochaihutang (XCHT) has been used in China for thousands of years to treat 鈥淪haoyang syndrome鈥? which involves depressive-like symptoms. However, few studies have investigated its antidepressant effects and pharmacological mechanism of action. The present study was designed to confirm the antidepressant effect of XCHT using a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model and explore its potential mechanism of action by investigating the monoamine neurotransmitters (dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine) and neurotrophins (BDNF and NGF).Materials and methods
The CUMS model was established in rats, and the antidepressant effect of XCHT (0.6, 1.7 and 5 mg/kg/day, given by gastric gavage for 4 weeks) was investigated using the open field test (OFT), food consumption test and sucrose preference test. The concentrations of 5-HT and DA in the hippocampus were measured by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). The expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and their receptors tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) and tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA) in the hippocampus were measured by immunohistochemical staining analysis.
Results
CUMS caused a significant decrease in OFT, food consumption and sucrose preference in rats, and these depression-like behaviors were significantly improved by XCHT (1.7 and 5 g/kg/day). Moreover, XCHT significantly increased the concentrations of 5-HT (0.6 and 5 g/kg/day) and DA (5 g/kg/day), and improved the BDNF, NGF, TrkB and TrkA expressions in the hippocampus (1.7 and 5 g/kg/day), which was reduced in CUMS rats.
Conclusion
The results obtained suggested that XCHT may have therapeutic actions on depression-like behavior induced by CUMS in rats possibly mediated by increasing the monoamine neurotransmitter concentration and neurotrophin expression in the hippocampus.