Saponin extract of Baihe - Zhimu Tang ameliorates depression in chronic mild stress rats

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2020.103905Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • SBZT demonstrated significant efficacy in ameliorating depression-like behaviors.

  • SBZT suppressed hyperactivation of HPA axis.

  • SBZT improved the synthesis and transport processes of neurotransmitters.

  • SBZT exhibited neuroprotection upon inflammation-related neuronal apoptosis.

  • SBZT is a potential antidepressant Traditional Chinese medicine agent.

Abstract

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the prescription Baihe - Zhimu Tang has been using to treat depression for hundreds of years. However, its underlying mechanism is still unclear. Saponin compounds extracted from TCM have been reported to exert antidepressant-like effect. In present study, we investigated the efficacy and mechanism of Saponin extract from Baihe - Zhimu Tang (SBZT) in treating depression. Results confirmed that SBZT can act as an anti-depressant agent in a murine model of depression-like abnormality. SBZT demonstrated significant efficacy in ameliorating depression-like behaviors and the abnormal levels of pathological markers associated with depression. While, based on microarray analysis, we found the mechanisms were related to its inhibition activity on hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis hyperactivation, improvement ability in synthesis and transport processes of neurotransmitters and neuroprotection upon inflammation-related neuronal apoptosis. In conclusion, SBZT demonstrated significant efficacy in treating depression, suggesting its clinical potential as an anti-depressant TCM agent.

Keywords

Traditional Chinese medicine
Saponin extract from Baihe Zhimu Tang
Anti-depression
Neurotransmitters
Neuronal apoptosis

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These authors contributed equally.