Chrysanthemum morifolium (Chr) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been used in the treatment of inflammation-linked diseases for hundreds of years. Naringenin (Nar) and apigenin (Api) are the major active components in aqueous extracts of C. morifolium. The aim of our study was to clarify the roles of Chr, Nar and Api in ameliorating depression-like behaviour induced by corticosterone. First, the behavioural and biochemical indicators closely related to depression were examined to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Chr/Nar/Api on a depression model. Then, a metabolomics approach was utilized to screen for biomarkers and related pathways between a control group and Chr/Nar/Api groups. The comprehensive results revealed that Chr/Nar/Api exerted anti-depressant effects through interfering with tryptophan metabolism, arginine and prolinemetabolism, citrate cycle, niacin and niacinamide metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism. The mechanism of Chr/Api/Nar in the treatment of depression was elucidated based on material and energy metabolism. Moreover, Nar could be used as a substitute for Chr for reversing depression-like behaviour, and Api was similar to a positive drug in terms of function on depression. The integrated metabolomics approach demonstrated here should be an effective method for interpreting the function of herbs from TCM and clarifying the mechanism of their components in future studies.

中文翻译：

---

菊花中两种活性成分抗抑郁作用的代谢组学研究。

菊花（Chr）是一种中药（TCM），已用于治疗与炎症相关的疾病已有数百年历史。柚皮素（Nar）和芹菜素（Api）是沙枣的水提取物中的主要活性成分。我们研究的目的是阐明Chr，Nar和Api在改善皮质酮诱发的抑郁样行为中的作用。首先，检查与抑郁症密切相关的行为和生化指标，以评估Chr / Nar / Api对抑郁症模型的治疗效果。然后，利用代谢组学方法筛选对照组和Chr / Nar / Api组之间的生物标志物和相关途径。综合结果表明，Chr / Nar / Api通过干扰色氨酸代谢发挥抗抑郁作用，精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢，柠檬酸盐循环，烟酸和烟酰胺代谢，苯丙氨酸代谢以及丙氨酸，天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢。根据物质和能量代谢，阐明了Chr / Api / Nar治疗抑郁症的机制。此外，Nar可以替代Chr来逆转抑郁症样的行为，就抗抑郁症的功能而言，Api与阳性药物相似。这里展示的综合代谢组学方法应该是从中医解释草药功能并阐明其成分机理的有效方法，以供将来研究之用。根据物质和能量代谢，阐明了Chr / Api / Nar治疗抑郁症的机制。此外，Nar可以替代Chr来逆转抑郁症样的行为，就抗抑郁症的功能而言，Api与阳性药物相似。这里展示的综合代谢组学方法应该是从中医解释草药功能并阐明其成分机理的有效方法，以供将来研究之用。根据物质和能量代谢，阐明了Chr / Api / Nar治疗抑郁症的机制。此外，Nar可以替代Chr来逆转抑郁症样的行为，就抗抑郁症的功能而言，Api与阳性药物相似。这里展示的综合代谢组学方法应该是从中医解释草药功能并阐明其成分机理的有效方法，以供将来研究之用。