Although depression is the most common psychiatric disorder, its pharmacological properties are not well known yet. It has been reported that Valeriana fauriei (VF) extract is beneficial for several neurological diseases. However, little information is available regarding its antidepressant activity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine antidepressant activity of VF and the underlying mechanism involved in its effect on chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced depression using a mouse model. Oral treatment of VF extract for 14 days significantly ameliorated depression-like behavior (immobility time) in forced swimming and tail suspension tests following CRS induction, in accordance with decreased levels of serum corticosterone. VF extract ameliorated c-Fos expression, microglial activation, phosphorylated p38 expression, and inflammatory response (protein expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide) in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala of mice after CRS induction. However, VF extract enhanced the stimulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathways, in accordance with upregulation in protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Collectively, our findings demonstrate that VF extract has antidepressant-like activity against CRS-induced depression through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects by inhibiting BDNF expression. Further studies are warranted to investigate VF extract's fraction and components to develop possible antidepressants.

中文翻译：

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缬草通过抑制与慢性约束应激有关的脑源性神经营养因子，通过抗炎和抗氧化作用发挥抗抑郁作用。

尽管抑郁症是最常见的精神疾病，但其药理特性尚未广为人知。据报道，Valeriana fauriei（VF）提取物对几种神经系统疾病有益。但是，关于其抗抑郁活性的信息很少。因此，本研究的目的是使用小鼠模型确定VF的抗抑郁活性及其对慢性抑制应激（CRS）诱导的抑郁的影响的潜在机制。根据血清皮质酮水平的降低，口服VF提取物治疗14天后，在CRS诱导后的强迫游泳和尾部悬吊试验中，可显着改善抑郁样行为（不活动时间）。VF提取物改善了额叶前额叶，海马中的c-Fos表达，小胶质细胞活化，磷酸化的p38表达和炎症反应（环氧合酶2和诱导型一氧化氮的蛋白质表达水平），CRS诱导后小鼠的杏仁核和杏仁核。然而，根据脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）蛋白表达的上调，VF提取物增强了对核因子红系2相关因子2通路的刺激。总的来说，我们的发现表明VF提取物通过抑制BDNF的表达具有抗炎和抗氧化作用，从而具有抗CRS诱导的抑郁症的抗抑郁样活性。有必要进行进一步的研究来研究VF提取物的成分和组分，以开发可能的抗抑郁药。我们的研究结果表明，VF提取物通过抑制BDNF的表达具有抗炎和抗氧化作用，具有抗CRS诱导的抑郁症的抗抑郁样活性。有必要进行进一步的研究来研究VF提取物的成分和组分，以开发可能的抗抑郁药。我们的发现表明，VF提取物通过抑制BDNF的表达具有抗炎和抗氧化作用，具有抗CRS诱导的抑郁症的抗抑郁样活性。有必要进行进一步的研究来研究VF提取物的成分和组分，以开发可能的抗抑郁药。