title: [Effects of total triterpenes of Centella asiatica on the corticosterone levels in serum and contents of monoamine in depression rat brain].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible effect of antidepressant effect of total triterpentes of Centella asiatica.
  
  
  METHODS
  The corticosterone levels in serum were measured by fluorescence spectroscopy. The contents of monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites in rats cortex, hippocamopus and thalamus were evaluated by using HPLC with electrochemical detector.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant reduction of the corticosterone level in serum and increase of the contents of 5-HT, NE, DA and their metabolites 5-HIAA, MHPG in rat brain were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The antidepressant effect of total triterpenes of Centella asiatica may be involved in ameliorating the function of HPA axis and increasing the contents of monoamine neurotransmitters.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yaocheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Luping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Hanchen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D028041:Centella / Q000737:chemistry*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D014315:Triterpenes; D003345:Corticosterone