[Effects of Xiaoyao Wan on the behavioral despair and stress depression mice].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the anti-depressant effect and the possible mechanism of Xiaoyao Wan in animal models.


METHODS
The open-field test and the forced swimming test were applied to study the anti-depressant effect of Xiaoyao Wan in mice, and HPLC-ECD was carried out to assay the contents of 5-HT and 5-HIAA, and the mechanism of Xiaoyao Wan on anti-depressant effect was discussed.


RESULTS
Xiaoyao Wan at the dose of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg significantly increased the revolutions in force swimming test, and ameliorated brain cortex 5-HT and 5-HIAA content of restraint mice. But there was no effect on brain cortex 5-HT and 5-HIAA content of non-restraint mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Xiaoyao Wan has significant anti-depressant effect which may be related to the potentiation of brain serotonergic function.
Bao
Li
L
School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China. libao0133@163.com
Chen
Jing
J
Huang
Lin
L
Chen
Wei
W
Lin
Qing
Q
Yao
Xin-Sheng
XS
Hiroshi
Kurihara
K
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013550:Swimming
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005473:Fluoxetine; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid