Antidepressant-like effect of peony glycosides in mice.
OBJECTIVE
The root part of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (Ranunculaceae), known as peony, is often used in Chinese herbal formulae for the treatment of depression-like disorders. Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that an ethanol extract of peony produced antidepressive effects in mouse models of depression. It is well known that peony contains glycosides such as paeoniflorin and albiflorin, yet it remains unclear whether the total glycosides of peony (TGP) are effective. The present study aims to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of TGP.


METHODS
The antidepressant-like effects of TGP was determined by using animal models of depression including forced swim and tail suspension tests. The acting mechanism was explored by determining the effect of TGP on the activities of monoamine oxidases.


RESULTS
Intragastric administration of TGP at 80 and 160 mg/kg for seven days caused a significant reduction of immobility time in both forced swim and tail suspension tests, yet TGP did not stimulate locomotor activity in the open-field test. In addition, TGP treatment antagonized reserpine-induced ptosis and inhibited the activities of monoamine oxidases in mouse cerebrum.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the antidepressive effects of TGP are mediated, at least in part, by the inhibition of monoamine oxidases.
Mao
Qing-Qiu
QQ
School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong.
Ip
Siu-Po
SP
Tsai
Sam-Hip
SH
Che
Chun-Tao
CT
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D054022:Cerebrum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006027:Glycosides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D029596:Paeonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D012110:Reserpine; D013550:Swimming
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D006027:Glycosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012110:Reserpine; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase