In our study, a chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression rat model was constructed then the antidepressant effects and mechanisms of Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) have been evaluaed accordingly. In the study, there were three subgroups of stochastically-selected male Wistar rats, namely, Control, CUMS-induced (chronic unpredictable mild stress) and CUMS with EGCG administration. The outcomes of sucrose preference and open-field tests presented the antidepressant-like effects of EGCG. With EGCG treatment, the levels of IL-6 and NO had significantly declined. Through EGCG administration, the suppressed expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 mRNA in hippocampus was exhibited in the experiment. The implication of experimental outcomes can be served as preclinical evidences for therapeutic applications in the treatment of depression potentially, because of the antidepressant-like role of EGCG played against inflammation to protect neurons in hippocampus.

在我们的研究中，建立了慢性不可预测的轻度应激诱发的抑郁大鼠模型，然后据此评估了Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate（EGCG）的抗抑郁作用和机理。在这项研究中，随机选择了三个雄性Wistar大鼠亚组，即对照组，CUMS诱导的（慢性不可预测的轻度应激）和EGCG给药的CUMS。蔗糖偏爱和露天试验的结果显示了EGCG的抗抑郁样作用。EGCG治疗后，IL-6和NO的水平明显下降。通过EGCG施用，在实验中显示出海马中caspase-3和caspase-9 mRNA的表达被抑制。